Usefulness of Pulse Oximeter That Can Measure SpO2 to One Digit After Decimal Point.

PubMed

Yamamoto, Akihiro; Burioka, Naoto; Eto, Aritoshi; Amisaki, Takashi; Shimizu, Eiji

2017-06-01

Pulse oximeters are used to noninvasively measure oxygen saturation in arterial blood (SaO 2 ). Although arterial oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximeter (SpO 2 ) is usually indicated in 1% increments, the value of SaO 2 from arterial blood gas analysis is not an integer. We have developed a new pulse oximeter that can measure SpO 2 to one digit after the decimal point. The values of SpO 2 from the newly developed pulse oximeter are highly correlated with the values of SaO 2 from arterial blood gas analysis (SpO 2 = 0.899 × SaO 2 + 9.944, r = 0.887, P < 0.0001). This device may help improve the evaluation of pathological conditions in patients.

Nanodiamond embedded ta-C composite film by pulsed filtered vacuum arc deposition from a single target

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iyer, Ajai; Etula, Jarkko; Ge, Yanling; Liu, Xuwen; Koskinen, Jari

2016-11-01

Detonation Nanodiamonds (DNDs) are known to have sp3 core, sp2 shell, small size (few nm) and are gaining importance as multi-functional nanoparticles. Diverse methods have been used to form composites, containing detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs) embedded in conductive and dielectric matrices for various applications. Here we show a method, wherein DND-ta-C composite film, consisting of DNDs embedded in ta-C matrix have been co-deposited from the same cathode by pulsed filtered cathodic vacuum arc method. Transmission Electron Microscope analysis of these films revel the presence of DNDs embedded in the matrix of amorphous carbon. Raman spectroscopy indicates that the presence of DNDs does not adversely affect the sp3 content of DND-ta-C composite film compared to ta-C film of same thickness. Nanoindentation and nanowear tests indicate that DND-ta-C composite films possess improved mechanical properties in comparison to ta-C films of similar thickness.

Accuracy of Pulse Oximeters in Detecting Hypoxemia in Patients with Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

PubMed Central

Kohyama, Tomoki; Moriyama, Kiyoshi; Kanai, Riichiro; Kotani, Mariko; Uzawa, Kohji; Satoh, Toru; Yorozu, Tomoko

2015-01-01

Purpose Pulse oximetry is routinely used to continuously and non-invasively monitor arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2). When oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter (SpO2) overestimates SaO2, hypoxemia may be overlooked. We compared the SpO2 - SaO2 differences among three pulse oximeters in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) who spent their daily lives in a poor oxygen state. Material and Method This prospective observational study recruited 32 patients with CTEPH undergoing elective cardiac catheterization. As we collected arterial blood samples in the catheter laboratory, SpO2 values were simultaneously recorded. Three pulse oximeters were used on each patient, and SpO2 values were compared with oximetry readings using a blood gas analyzer. To determine the optimal SpO2 value by which to detect hypoxemia (SaO2≦90%), we generated receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for each pulse oximeter. Result The root mean square of each pulse oximeter was 1.79 (OLV-3100), 1.64 (N-BS), and 2.50 (Masimo Radical). The mean bias (SpO2 - SaO2) for the 90%–95% saturation range was significantly higher for Masimo Radical (0.19 +/- 1.78% [OLV-3100], 0.18 +/- 1.63% [N-BS], and 1.61 +/- 1.91% [Masimo Radical]; p<0.0001). The optimal SpO2 value to detect hypoxemia (SaO2≦90%) was 89% for OLV-3100, 90% for N-BS, and 92% for Masimo Radical. Conclusion We found that the biases and precision with which to detect hypoxemia differed among the three pulse oximeters. To avoid hypoxemia, the optimal SpO2 should be determined for each pulse oximeter. PMID:25978517

Accuracy of pulse oximeters in detecting hypoxemia in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

PubMed

Kohyama, Tomoki; Moriyama, Kiyoshi; Kanai, Riichiro; Kotani, Mariko; Uzawa, Kohji; Satoh, Toru; Yorozu, Tomoko

2015-01-01

Pulse oximetry is routinely used to continuously and non-invasively monitor arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2). When oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter (SpO2) overestimates SaO2, hypoxemia may be overlooked. We compared the SpO2 - SaO2 differences among three pulse oximeters in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) who spent their daily lives in a poor oxygen state. This prospective observational study recruited 32 patients with CTEPH undergoing elective cardiac catheterization. As we collected arterial blood samples in the catheter laboratory, SpO2 values were simultaneously recorded. Three pulse oximeters were used on each patient, and SpO2 values were compared with oximetry readings using a blood gas analyzer. To determine the optimal SpO2 value by which to detect hypoxemia (SaO2≦90%), we generated receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for each pulse oximeter. The root mean square of each pulse oximeter was 1.79 (OLV-3100), 1.64 (N-BS), and 2.50 (Masimo Radical). The mean bias (SpO2 - SaO2) for the 90%-95% saturation range was significantly higher for Masimo Radical (0.19 +/- 1.78% [OLV-3100], 0.18 +/- 1.63% [N-BS], and 1.61 +/- 1.91% [Masimo Radical]; p<0.0001). The optimal SpO2 value to detect hypoxemia (SaO2≦90%) was 89% for OLV-3100, 90% for N-BS, and 92% for Masimo Radical. We found that the biases and precision with which to detect hypoxemia differed among the three pulse oximeters. To avoid hypoxemia, the optimal SpO2 should be determined for each pulse oximeter.

Ultrashort pulse laser deposition of thin films

DOEpatents

Perry, Michael D.; Banks, Paul S.; Stuart, Brent C.

2002-01-01

Short pulse PLD is a viable technique of producing high quality films with properties very close to that of crystalline diamond. The plasma generated using femtosecond lasers is composed of single atom ions with no clusters producing films with high Sp.sup.3 /Sp.sup.2 ratios. Using a high average power femtosecond laser system, the present invention dramatically increases deposition rates to up to 25 .mu.m/hr (which exceeds many CVD processes) while growing particulate-free films. In the present invention, deposition rates is a function of laser wavelength, laser fluence, laser spot size, and target/substrate separation. The relevant laser parameters are shown to ensure particulate-free growth, and characterizations of the films grown are made using several diagnostic techniques including electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and Raman spectroscopy.

Ring-shaped pulse oximeter and its application: measurement of SpO2 and blood pressure during sleep and during flight.

PubMed

Kishimoto, Aya; Tochikubo, Osamu; Ohshige, Kenji; Yanaga, Akihiko

2005-01-01

Respiratory and cardiovascular functions show circadian and day-to-day changes. We have developed a wireless ring-shaped pulse oximeter in collaboration with MC Medical Inc. and Advanced Medical Inc. We investigated the accuracy of this pulse oximeter and its application in daily life. Percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) of 47 volunteers was measured simultaneously with the ring-shaped pulse oximeter and a standard pulse oximeter. A total of 103 volunteers underwent measurement of SpO2 for 24 hr, and 11 healthy volunteers underwent measurement of SpO2 and blood pressure (BP) during flight. SpO2 and heart rate (HR) were measured and recorded every 20 sec, cabin barometric pressure and cabin oxygen concentration equivalent to sea level were measured minute-to-minute, and BP was measured every 3 min with a portable BP recorder during each flight. The SpO2 values measured with the ring-shaped pulse oximeter were similar to those measured with the standard method. The mean SpO2 during sleep was significantly lower in the group with high-normal BP or mild hypertension than in the group with normal BP. During flight, the mean change in SpO2 was -2.4 +/- 1.7% during nose-up flight, and 2.1 +/- 2.6% during nose-down flight. There was a significant correlation between change in SpO2 and change in systolic BP during nose-up flight. The wireless ring-shaped pulse oximeter was useful for investigating changes in SpO2 and its effect on BP in daily life during sleep and during air travel.

Analysis of engineered nanomaterials in the environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reed, Robert Bruce

With increasing incorporation of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) into consumer products, there is concern that these materials will be released to the environment with unknown ecological effects. Methods for detection and characterization of these materials at environmentally relevant concentrations are crucial to understanding this potential risk. A relatively new method, single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICPMS), was applied to analysis of metal oxide NPs such as ZnO, CeO2, and TiO2, as well as silver nanowires and carbon nanotubes. A lack of nanoparticulate "pulses" in spICPMS analysis of nano-ZnO led to a study on ZnO NP solubility in a variety of matrices. Dissolution of nano-ZnO was observed in nanopure water (7.18 - 7.40 mg/L dissolved Zn, as measured by filtration) and Roswell Park Memorial Institute medium (RPMI-1640) (~5 mg/L), but much more dissolution was observed in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM), where the dissolved Zn concentration exceeded 34 mg/L. These results suggest that solution chemistry exerts a strong influence on ZnO NP dissolution and can result in limits on zinc solubility due to precipitation of less soluble solid phases. Detection and sizing of metal-containing NPs was achieved at concentrations predicted for environmental samples (part-per trillion levels) using spICPMS. Sizing of silver nanowires, titanium dioxide and cerium oxide NPs was done by correlating ICP-MS response (pulses) from NPs entering the plasma to mass of metal in dissolved standards. The ratio of NP pulse detections to the total number of readings during analysis was optimized at 2.5% or less to minimize coincident pulses while still allowing definition of a size distribution. Detection of single walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was performed using spICPMS. This study focuses on using trace catalytic metal nanoparticles intercalated in the CNT structure as proxies for the nanotubes. The small, variable, amount of trace metal in each CNT makes separation from instrumental background challenging, and multiple approaches to this problem were attempted. To highlight the potential of spICPMS in environmental studies the release of CNTs from polymer nanocomposites into solution was monitored, showcasing the technique's ability to detect changes in released CNT concentrations as a function of CNT loading.

Direct measurements of sample heating by a laser-induced air plasma in pre-ablation spark dual-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).

PubMed

Register, Janna; Scaffidi, Jonathan; Angel, S Michael

2012-08-01

Direct measurements of temperature changes were made using small thermocouples (TC), placed near a laser-induced air plasma. Temperature changes up to ~500 °C were observed. From the measured temperature changes, estimates were made of the amount of heat absorbed per unit area. This allowed calculations to be made of the surface temperature, as a function of time, of a sample heated by the air plasma that is generated during orthogonal pre-ablation spark dual-pulse (DP) LIBS measurements. In separate experiments, single-pulse (SP) LIBS emission and sample ablation rate measurements were performed on nickel at sample temperatures ranging from room temperature to the maximum surface temperature that was calculated using the TC measurement results (500 °C). A small, but real sample temperature-dependent increase in both SP LIBS emission and the rate of sample ablation was found for nickel samples heated up to 500 °C. Comparison of DP LIBS emission enhancement values for bulk nickel samples at room temperature versus the enhanced SP LIBS emission and sample ablation rates observed as a function of increasing sample temperature suggests that sample heating by the laser-induced air plasma plays only a minor role in DP LIBS emission enhancement.

Respiratory terminal oxidases alleviate photo-oxidative damage in photosystem I during repetitive short-pulse illumination in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

PubMed

Shimakawa, Ginga; Miyake, Chikahiro

2018-03-08

Oxygenic phototrophs are vulnerable to damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are produced in photosystem I (PSI) by excess photon energy over the demand of photosynthetic CO 2 assimilation. In plant leaves, repetitive short-pulse (rSP) illumination produces ROS to inactivate PSI. The production of ROS is alleviated by oxidation of the reaction center chlorophyll in PSI, P700, during the illumination with the short-pulse light, which is supported by flavodiiron protein (FLV). In this study, we found that in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 P700 was oxidized and PSI was not inactivated during rSP illumination even in the absence of FLV. Conversely, the mutant deficient in respiratory terminal oxidases was impaired in P700 oxidation during the illumination with the short-pulse light to suffer from photo-oxidative damage in PSI. Interestingly, the other cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 could not oxidize P700 without FLV during rSP illumination. These data indicate that respiratory terminal oxidases are critical to protect PSI from ROS damage during rSP illumination in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 but not Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002.

PIC simulations of post-pulse field reversal and secondary ionization in nanosecond argon discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, H. Y.; Gołkowski, M.; Gołkowski, C.; Stoltz, P.; Cohen, M. B.; Walker, M.

2018-05-01

Post-pulse electric field reversal and secondary ionization are investigated with a full kinetic treatment in argon discharges between planar electrodes on nanosecond time scales. The secondary ionization, which occurs at the falling edge of the voltage pulse, is induced by charge separation in the bulk plasma region. This process is driven by a reverse in the electric field from the cathode sheath to the formerly driven anode. Under the influence of the reverse electric field, electrons in the bulk plasma and sheath regions are accelerated toward the cathode. The electron movement manifests itself as a strong electron current generating high electron energies with significant electron dissipated power. Accelerated electrons collide with Ar molecules and an increased ionization rate is achieved even though the driving voltage is no longer applied. With this secondary ionization, in a single pulse (SP), the maximum electron density achieved is 1.5 times higher and takes a shorter time to reach using 1 kV 2 ns pulse as compared to a 1 kV direct current voltage at 1 Torr. A bipolar dual pulse excitation can increase maximum density another 50%–70% above a SP excitation and in half the time of RF sinusoidal excitation of the same period. The first field reversal is most prominent but subsequent field reversals also occur and correspond to electron temperature increases. Targeted pulse designs can be used to condition plasma density as required for fast discharge applications.

Numerical study of double-pulse laser ablation of Al

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Förster, G. D.; Lewis, Laurent J.

2018-06-01

The effect of double laser pulses (DPs) on the ablation process in solids is studied using a hybrid two-temperature model combining a continuum description of the conduction band electrons with a classical molecular dynamics (MD) approach for the ions. The study is concerned with double pulses with delays in the range of 0-50 ps and absorbed laser fluences of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 J/m 2 [i.e., 1-3 times the ablation threshold for single-pulse ablation (SP)], taking Al as a generic example of simple metals. A detailed analysis, including the assessment of thermodynamic pathways and cavitation rates, leads to a comprehensive picture of the mechanisms active during the different stages of the ablation process initiated by DPs. This study provides an explanation for several phenomena observed in DP ablation experiments. In particular, with respect to SP ablation, crater depths are reduced, which can be explained by the compensation of the rarefaction wave from the first laser pulse with the compression wave from the second pulse, or, at higher fluences and larger delays, by the fact that the target surface is shielded with matter ablated by the first laser pulse. Also, we discuss how smoother surface structures obtained using DPs may be related to features found in the simulations—viz., reduced mechanical strain and peak lattice temperatures. Finally, vaporization appears to be enhanced in DP ablation, which may improve the resolution of emission spectra.

HAMS (Hypoxia, Monitoring, and Mitigation System) II Quarterly Progress Report (Technical and Financial)

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-04-10

Peripheral Interface SpO2 Arterial Oxygen Saturation Measured via Pulse - Oximeter SRS Software Requirements Specification SV Stroke Volume SVR Systemic...viewer ....................................................................................................... 9 Figure 3: Pulse OX custom module...analysis approaches will be gathered. Sensors which detect SpO2, pulse / pulse rate, ECG, and skin temperature will be researched and evaluated for

Hypoxia, Monitoring, and Mitigation System

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-02-01

CO- Oximeter SpO2 Arterial Oxygen Saturation Measured via Pulse - Oximeter TAILSS Tactical Aircrew Integrated Life Support System TUC Time of Useful...SpO2, pulse / pulse rate, ECG, and skin temperature will be researched and evaluated for integration feasibility with a tactile vibrator for alerting

Monitoring pulse oximetry via radiotelemetry in freely-moving lambs.

PubMed

Reix, Philippe; Dumont, Sylvain; Duvareille, Charles; Cyr, Jonathan; Moreau-Bussière, François; Arsenault, Julie; Praud, Jean-Paul

2005-05-12

This study was aimed at validating the use of a custom-made wireless pulse oximeter in freely moving lambs, using radiotelemetry transmission. First, measurements obtained simultaneously using the new, wireless oximeter and a standard commercially-available pulse oximeter (Nonin 8500) were compared in five lambs during 5min episodes of normoxia, hypoxia and hyperoxia. Correlation between the two oximeters for both SpO(2) and heart rate was very good, regardless of oxygenation conditions. Secondly, the capabilities of our device were assessed during more than 45h of polysomnographic recordings in seven lambs. According to the plethysmographic pulse waveform, reliable SpO(2) values were obtained in more than 85% of recording time. Multiple decreases in SpO(2) were readily observed after spontaneous apneas in preterm lambs. It is concluded that our wireless pulse oximeter performs as reliably as a standard pulse oximeter for monitoring SpO(2) variations in lambs, and offers new perspectives for researchers interested in continuous monitoring of oxygenation throughout sleep stages and wakefulness.

Rejection of false saturation data in optical pulse-oximeter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scalise, Lorenzo; Marchionni, Paolo; Carnielli, Virgilio

2010-04-01

Pulse oximetry (PO) is a non-invasive medical device used for monitoring of the arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and in particular of haemoglobin oxygenation in blood. Oxygen saturation is commonly used in any setting where the patient blood oxygen saturation is unstable, including Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The main factor affecting PO's output data is the presence of voluntary or involuntary motion artifacts or imperfect skin-sensor contact. Various methods have been employed to reject motion artifact but have met with little success. The aim of the present work is to propose a novel measurement procedure for real-time monitoring and validation of the oxygen saturation data as measured in standard pulse oxymeter. The procedure should be able to individuate and reject erroneous saturation data due to incorrect transducer-skin contact or motion artifact. In the case of short sequences of rejected SpO2 data (time duration< 8s), we report on an algorithm able to substitute the sequence of rejected data with the "most-probable" (rescued) SpO2 data. In total we have analyzed 14 patient for a total of 310 hr, 43 min and 15s, equivalent to a total number of samples of 1118595. For our study, we were interested to download heart rate measured with the ECG (HRECG), the heart rate as measured by the pulse oximeter (HRSAT) and the SpO2 value. In order to remove the erroneous SpO2 values reported in the rough data in coincidence of motion artifact (top, right), we have implemented a specific algorithm which provides at the output a new sequence of SpO2 data (validated SpO2 data). With the aim to "rescue" SpO2 value rejected by the previously presented algorithm, we have implemented an algorithm able to provide the "most-probable" SpO2 values in the case of single rejected values or in the case of short sequences of invalidated data (< 8 s). From these data it is possible to observe how in the 6.8% of the observation time the SpO2 data measured by the pulse oximeter are not validated by the use of our method (corresponding to a total time of 16 hr, 8min and 40s). The use of the proposed algorithm aiming to "rescue" data from short sequences of rejected data (< 8s) allows to increase the validated data of the 2.5%t(equivalent to 8hr, 40 min and 16s), allowing a percent of usable data of the 95.7%. Once implemented in clinic, it could be used to identify the period of the day in which the percent of rejected data increase or correlate this data to clinical procedure in order to intensify clinicians and nurses attention.

Design of a finger base-type pulse oximeter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Bor-Shyh; Huang, Cheng-Yang; Chen, Chien-Yue; Lin, Jiun-Hung

2016-01-01

A pulse oximeter is a common medical instrument used for noninvasively monitoring arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2). Currently, the fingertip-type pulse oximeter is the prevalent type of pulse oximeter used. However, it is inconvenient for long-term monitoring, such as that under motion. In this study, a wearable and wireless finger base-type pulse oximeter was designed and implemented using the tissue optical simulation technique and the Monte Carlo method. The results revealed that a design involving placing the light source at 135°-165° and placing the detector at 75°-90° or 90°-105° yields the optimal conditions for measuring SpO2. Finally, the wearable and wireless finger base-type pulse oximeter was implemented and compared with the commercial fingertip-type pulse oximeter. The experimental results showed that the proposed optimal finger base-type pulse oximeter design can facilitate precise SpO2 measurement.

Design of a finger base-type pulse oximeter.

PubMed

Lin, Bor-Shyh; Huang, Cheng-Yang; Chen, Chien-Yue; Lin, Jiun-Hung

2016-01-01

A pulse oximeter is a common medical instrument used for noninvasively monitoring arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2). Currently, the fingertip-type pulse oximeter is the prevalent type of pulse oximeter used. However, it is inconvenient for long-term monitoring, such as that under motion. In this study, a wearable and wireless finger base-type pulse oximeter was designed and implemented using the tissue optical simulation technique and the Monte Carlo method. The results revealed that a design involving placing the light source at 135°-165° and placing the detector at 75°-90° or 90°-105° yields the optimal conditions for measuring SpO2. Finally, the wearable and wireless finger base-type pulse oximeter was implemented and compared with the commercial fingertip-type pulse oximeter. The experimental results showed that the proposed optimal finger base-type pulse oximeter design can facilitate precise SpO2 measurement.

The relative trending accuracy of noninvasive continuous hemoglobin monitoring during hemodialysis in critically ill patients.

PubMed

Yamada, Hiroshi; Saeki, Minako; Ito, Junko; Kawada, Kazuhiro; Higurashi, Aya; Funakoshi, Hiromi; Takeda, Kohji

2015-02-01

The pulse CO-Oximeter (Radical-7; Masimo Corp., Irvine, CA) is a multi-wavelength spectrophotometric method for noninvasive continuous monitoring of hemoglobin (SpHb). Because evaluating the relative change in blood volume (ΔBV) is crucial to avoid hypovolemia and hypotension during hemodialysis, it would be of great clinical benefit if ΔBV could be estimated by measurement of SpHb during hemodialysis. The capability of the pulse CO-Oximeter to monitor ΔBV depends on the relative trending accuracy of SpHb. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the relative trending accuracy of SpHb by the pulse CO-Oximeter using Crit-Line as a reference device. In 12 patients who received hemodialysis (total 22 sessions) in the intensive care unit, ΔBV was determined from SpHb. Relative changes in blood volume determined from SpHb were calculated according to the equation: ΔBV(SpHb)=[starting SpHb]/[current SpHb] - 1. The absolute values of SpHb and hematocrit measured by Crit-Line (CL-Hct) showed poor correlation. On the contrary, linear regression analysis showed good correlation between ΔBV(SpHb) and the relative change in blood volume measured by Crit-Line [ΔBV(CL-Hct)] (r=0.83; P≤0.001). Bland-Altman analysis also revealed good agreement between ΔBV(SpHb) and ΔBV(CL-Hct) (bias, -0.77%; precision, 3.41%). Polar plot analysis revealed good relative trending accuracy of SpHb with an angular bias of 4.1° and radial limits of agreement of 24.4° (upper) and -16.2° (lower). The results of the current study indicate that SpHb measurement with the pulse CO-Oximeter has good relative trending accuracy.

[Accuracy of a pulse oximeter during hypoxia].

PubMed

Tachibana, C; Fukada, T; Hasegawa, R; Satoh, K; Furuya, Y; Ohe, Y

1996-04-01

The accuracy of the pulse oximeter was examined in hypoxic patients. We studied 11 cyanotic congenital heart disease patients during surgery, and compared the arterial oxygen saturation determined by both the simultaneous blood gas analysis (CIBA-CORNING 288 BLOOD GAS SYSTEM, SaO2) and by the pulse oximeter (DATEX SATELITE, with finger probe, SpO2). Ninty sets of data on SpO2 and SaO2 were obtained. The bias (SpO2-SaO2) was 1.7 +/- 6.9 (mean +/- SD) %. In cyanotic congenital heart disease patients, SpO2 values were significantly higher than SaO2. Although the reason is unknown, in constantly hypoxic patients, SpO2 values are possibly over-estimated. In particular, pulse oximetry at low levels of saturation (SaO2 below 80%) was not as accurate as at a higher saturation level (SaO2 over 80%). There was a positive correlation between SpO2 and SaO2 (linear regression analysis yields the equation y = 0.68x + 26.0, r = 0.93). In conclusion, the pulse oximeter is useful to monitor oxygen saturation in constantly hypoxic patients, but the values thus obtained should be compared with the values measured directly when hypoxemia is severe.

Novel Pulse Oximetry Sonifications for Neonatal Oxygen Saturation Monitoring: A Laboratory Study.

PubMed

Hinckfuss, Kelly; Sanderson, Penelope; Loeb, Robert G; Liley, Helen G; Liu, David

2016-03-01

We aimed to test whether the use of novel pulse oximetry sounds (sonifications) better informs listeners when a neonate's oxygen saturation (SpO2) deviates from the recommended range. Variable-pitch pulse oximeters do not accurately inform clinicians via sound alone when SpO2 is outside the target range of 90% to 95% for neonates on supplemental oxygen. Risk of blindness, organ damage, and death increase if SpO2 remains outside the target range. A more informative sonification may improve clinicians' ability to maintain the target range. In two desktop experiments, nonclinicians' ability to detect SpO2 range and direction of change was tested with novel versus conventional sonifications of simulated patient data. In Experiment 1, a "shoulder" sonification used larger pitch differences between adjacent saturation percentages for SpO2 values outside the target range. In Experiment 2, a "beacon" sonification used equal-appearing pitch differences, but when SpO2 was outside the target range, a fixed-pitch reference tone from the center of the target SpO2 range preceded every fourth pulse tone. The beacon sonification improved range identification accuracy over the control display (85% vs. 60%; p < .001), but the shoulder sonification did not (55% vs. 52%). The beacon provided a distinct auditory alert and reference that significantly improved nonclinical participants' ability to identify SpO2 range. Adding a beacon to the variable-pitch pulse oximeter sound may help clinicians identify when, and by how much, a neonate's SpO2 deviates from the target range, particularly during patient transport situations when auditory information becomes essential. © 2015, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

A direct temporal domain approach for ultrafast optical signal processing and its implementation using planar lightwave circuits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Bing

Ultrafast optical signal processing, which shares the same fundamental principles of electrical signal processing, can realize numerous important functionalities required in both academic research and industry. Due to the extremely fast processing speed, all-optical signal processing and pulse shaping have been widely used in ultrafast telecommunication networks, photonically-assisted RFlmicro-meter waveform generation, microscopy, biophotonics, and studies on transient and nonlinear properties of atoms and molecules. In this thesis, we investigate two types of optical spectrally-periodic (SP) filters that can be fabricated on planar lightwave circuits (PLC) to perform pulse repetition rate multiplication (PRRM) and arbitrary optical waveform generation (AOWG). First, we present a direct temporal domain approach for PRRM using SP filters. We show that the repetition rate of an input pulse train can be multiplied by a factor N using an optical filter with a free spectral range that does not need to be constrained to an integer multiple of N. Furthermore, the amplitude of each individual output pulse can be manipulated separately to form an arbitrary envelope at the output by optimizing the impulse response of the filter. Next, we use lattice-form Mach-Zehnder interferometers (LF-MZI) to implement the temporal domain approach for PRRM. The simulation results show that PRRM with uniform profiles, binary-code profiles and triangular profiles can be achieved. Three silica based LF-MZIs are designed and fabricated, which incorporate multi-mode interference (MMI) couplers and phase shifters. The experimental results show that 40 GHz pulse trains with a uniform envelope pattern, a binary code pattern "1011" and a binary code pattern "1101" are generated from a 10 GHz input pulse train. Finally, we investigate 2D ring resonator arrays (RRA) for ultraf ast optical signal processing. We design 2D RRAs to generate a pair of pulse trains with different binary-code patterns simultaneously from a single pulse train at a low repetition rate. We also design 2D RRAs for AOWG using the modified direct temporal domain approach. To demonstrate the approach, we provide numerical examples to illustrate the generation of two very different waveforms (square waveform and triangular waveform) from the same hyperbolic secant input pulse train. This powerful technique based on SP filters can be very useful for ultrafast optical signal processing and pulse shaping.

Discrepancies between arterial oxygen saturation and functional oxygen saturation measured with pulse oximetry in very preterm infants.

PubMed

Rosychuk, Rhonda J; Hudson-Mason, Ann; Eklund, Dianne; Lacaze-Masmonteil, Thierry

2012-01-01

Discrepancies between pulse oximetry saturation (SpO(2)) and arterial saturation (SaO(2)) at low blood oxygenation values have been previously reported with significant variations among instruments and studies. Whether pulse oximeters that attenuate motion artifact are less prone to such discrepancies is not well known. To prospectively assess the agreement of the Masimo V4 pulse oximeter within the critical 85-95% SpO(2) target range. For all consecutive babies with gestational age <33 weeks, postnatal age <7 days, and an umbilical arterial line, SpO(2) was measured continuously and SaO(2) analyzed on an as-needed basis. Bland-Altman techniques provided estimates of the difference (D = SaO(2) - SpO(2)), standard deviation (SD), and 95% limits of agreement (D ± 2*SD). There were 1,032 measurements (114 babies) with SpO(2) between 85 and 95%. The 95% limits of agreement were -2.0 ± 5.8, -2.4 ± 9.2, and -1.9 ± 5.3 in the SpO(2) categories 85-95, 85-89, and 91-95%, respectively. For the SpO(2) categories 85-89% and 91-95%, only 52% (53/101) and 59% (523/886) of SpO(2) values, respectively, corresponded to the analogous SaO(2) categories. In the 85-89% SpO(2) category, SaO(2) was lower than 85% in 39 of the 101 (39%) measurements. SaO(2) was lower on average than SpO(2) with an increased bias at lower saturation. The -2.4 ± 9.2 95% limits of agreement for SaO(2) - SpO(2) in the 85-89% SpO(2) category suggest that SpO(2) and SaO(2) are not interchangeable and intermittent SaO(2) assessments are warranted when the targeted SpO(2) is within this range. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Spectroscopic studies on diamond like carbon films synthesized by pulsed laser ablation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Panda, Madhusmita; Krishnan, R., E-mail: krish@igcar.gov.in; Ravindran, T. R.

2016-05-23

Hydrogen free Diamond like Carbon (DLC) thin films enriched with C-C sp{sup 3} bonding were grown on Si (111) substrates at laser pulse energies varying from 100 to 400 mJ (DLC-100, DLC-200, DLC-300, DLC-400), by Pulsed Laser Ablation (PLA) utilizing an Nd:YAG laser operating at fundamental wavelength. Structural, optical and morphological evolutions as a function of laser pulse energy were studied by micro Raman, UV-Vis spectroscopic studies and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), respectively. Raman spectra analysis provided critical clues for the variation in sp{sup 3} content and optical energy gap. The sp{sup 3} content was estimated using the FWHM ofmore » the G peak and found to be in the range of 62-69%. The trend of evolution of sp{sup 3} content matches well with the evolution of I{sub D}/I{sub G} ratio with pulse energy. UV-Vis absorption study of DLC films revealed the variation of optical energy gap with laser pulse energy (1.88 – 2.23 eV), which matches well with the evolution of G-Peak position of the Raman spectra. AFM study revealed that roughness, size and density of particulate in DLC films increase with laser pulse energy.« less

Do changes in pulse oximeter oxygen saturation predict equivalent changes in arterial oxygen saturation?

PubMed

Perkins, Gavin D; McAuley, Daniel F; Giles, Simon; Routledge, Helen; Gao, Fang

2003-08-01

This study investigates the relation between changes in pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (SpO2) and changes in arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) in the critically ill, and the effects of acidosis and anaemia on precision of using pulse oximetry to predict SaO2. Forty-one consecutive patients were recruited from a nine-bed general intensive care unit into a 2-month study. Patients with significant jaundice (bilirubin >40 micromol/l) or inadequate pulse oximetry tracing were excluded. A total of 1085 paired readings demonstrated only moderate correlation (r= 0.606; P < 0.01) between changes in SpO2 and those in SaO2, and the pulse oximeter tended to overestimate actual changes in SaO2. Anaemia increased the degree of positive bias whereas acidosis reduced it. However, the magnitude of these changes was small. Changes in SpO2 do not reliably predict equivalent changes in SaO2 in the critically ill. Neither anaemia nor acidosis alters the relation between SpO2 and SaO2 to any clinically important extent.

Monitoring of haemoglobin oxygen saturation in healthy infants using a new generation pulse oximeter which takes motion artifacts into account.

PubMed

Meyts, Isabelle; Reempts, Patrick Van; Boeck, Kris De

2002-12-01

The aim of this study was to establish normal values for overnight oxygen saturation (SpO2) in healthy term infants using an oximeter which takes into account motion artifacts and to compare these to normal values collected with a previous generation oximeter not correcting for motion artifacts. We recorded overnight SpO2 in 26 term, healthy infants (median age 136 days, range 6-364 days) in the home environment using the Nellcor Symphony N 3000 pulse oximeter with an averaging time of 3 s. A sample rate of 5 s was chosen. Motion artifacts were excluded from the analysis. Data were compared with those from a previous study, using the same inclusion and exclusion criteria with the Oxford Medilog. Median (quartiles) SpO2 was 98% (97%-99%). Median percentage of study time below SpO2 94% was 0.2% (0.1%-0.7%); median percentage of study time below SpO2 90% was 0.0% (0.0%-0.01%). Median SpO2with the Oxford oximeter was 97% (96%-98%); percentage of study time below SpO2 94% was 8% (2%-14%); percentage of study time below SpO2 90% was 2% (0%-4%). These data were compared with the Nellcor Symphony data: differences in median SpO2 were significant ( P<0.05); differences in percentage of time below SpO2 94% and 90% were also statistically significant ( P<0.001). we established normal values of oxygen saturation in healthy term infants using the Nellcor Symphony 3000 pulse oximeter. Care should be taken in interpreting values obtained with different types of pulse oximeters.

Design and optimization of a modular setup for measurements of three-dimensional spin polarization with ultrafast pulsed sources.

PubMed

Pincelli, T; Petrov, V N; Brajnik, G; Ciprian, R; Lollobrigida, V; Torelli, P; Krizmancic, D; Salvador, F; De Luisa, A; Sergo, R; Gubertini, A; Cautero, G; Carrato, S; Rossi, G; Panaccione, G

2016-03-01

ULTRASPIN is an apparatus devoted to the measurement of the spin polarization (SP) of electrons ejected from solid surfaces in a UHV environment. It is designed to exploit ultrafast light sources (free electron laser or laser high harmonic generation) and to perform (photo)electron spin analysis by an arrangement of Mott scattering polarimeters that measure the full SP vector. The system consists of two interconnected UHV vessels: one for surface science sample cleaning treatments, e-beam deposition of ultrathin films, and low energy electron diffraction/AES characterization. The sample environment in the polarimeter allows for cryogenic cooling and in-operando application of electric and magnetic fields. The photoelectrons are collected by an electrostatic accelerator and transport lens that form a periaxial beam that is subsequently directed by a Y-shaped electrostatic deflector to either one of the two orthogonal Mott polarimeters. The apparatus has been designed to operate in the extreme conditions of ultraintense single-X-ray pulses as originated by free electron lasers (up to 1 kHz), but it allows also for the single electron counting mode suitable when using statistical sources such as synchrotron radiation, cw-laser, or e-gun beams (up to 150 kcps).

Design and optimization of a modular setup for measurements of three-dimensional spin polarization with ultrafast pulsed sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pincelli, T.; Petrov, V. N.; Brajnik, G.; Ciprian, R.; Lollobrigida, V.; Torelli, P.; Krizmancic, D.; Salvador, F.; De Luisa, A.; Sergo, R.; Gubertini, A.; Cautero, G.; Carrato, S.; Rossi, G.; Panaccione, G.

2016-03-01

ULTRASPIN is an apparatus devoted to the measurement of the spin polarization (SP) of electrons ejected from solid surfaces in a UHV environment. It is designed to exploit ultrafast light sources (free electron laser or laser high harmonic generation) and to perform (photo)electron spin analysis by an arrangement of Mott scattering polarimeters that measure the full SP vector. The system consists of two interconnected UHV vessels: one for surface science sample cleaning treatments, e-beam deposition of ultrathin films, and low energy electron diffraction/AES characterization. The sample environment in the polarimeter allows for cryogenic cooling and in-operando application of electric and magnetic fields. The photoelectrons are collected by an electrostatic accelerator and transport lens that form a periaxial beam that is subsequently directed by a Y-shaped electrostatic deflector to either one of the two orthogonal Mott polarimeters. The apparatus has been designed to operate in the extreme conditions of ultraintense single-X-ray pulses as originated by free electron lasers (up to 1 kHz), but it allows also for the single electron counting mode suitable when using statistical sources such as synchrotron radiation, cw-laser, or e-gun beams (up to 150 kcps).

Design and optimization of a modular setup for measurements of three-dimensional spin polarization with ultrafast pulsed sources

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pincelli, T., E-mail: pincelli@iom.cnr.it; Rossi, G.; Laboratorio TASC, IOM-CNR, S.S. 14 km 163.5, Basovizza, 34149 Trieste

2016-03-15

ULTRASPIN is an apparatus devoted to the measurement of the spin polarization (SP) of electrons ejected from solid surfaces in a UHV environment. It is designed to exploit ultrafast light sources (free electron laser or laser high harmonic generation) and to perform (photo)electron spin analysis by an arrangement of Mott scattering polarimeters that measure the full SP vector. The system consists of two interconnected UHV vessels: one for surface science sample cleaning treatments, e-beam deposition of ultrathin films, and low energy electron diffraction/AES characterization. The sample environment in the polarimeter allows for cryogenic cooling and in-operando application of electric andmore » magnetic fields. The photoelectrons are collected by an electrostatic accelerator and transport lens that form a periaxial beam that is subsequently directed by a Y-shaped electrostatic deflector to either one of the two orthogonal Mott polarimeters. The apparatus has been designed to operate in the extreme conditions of ultraintense single-X-ray pulses as originated by free electron lasers (up to 1 kHz), but it allows also for the single electron counting mode suitable when using statistical sources such as synchrotron radiation, cw-laser, or e-gun beams (up to 150 kcps).« less

Inter-allotropic transformations in the heterogeneous carbon nanotube networks.

PubMed

Jung, Hyun Young; Jung, Sung Mi; Kim, Dong Won; Jung, Yung Joon

2017-01-19

The allotropic transformations of carbon provide an immense technological interest for tailoring the desired molecular structures in the scalable nanoelectronic devices. Herein, we explore the effects of morphology and geometric alignment of the nanotubes for the re-engineering of carbon bonds in the heterogeneous carbon nanotube (CNT) networks. By applying alternating voltage pulses and electrical forces, the single-walled CNTs in networks were predominantly transformed into other predetermined sp 2 carbon structures (multi-walled CNTs and multi-layered graphitic nanoribbons), showing a larger intensity in a coalescence-induced mode of Raman spectra with the increasing channel width. Moreover, the transformed networks have a newly discovered sp 2 -sp 3 hybrid nanostructures in accordance with the alignment. The sp 3 carbon structures at the small channel are controlled, such that they contain up to about 29.4% networks. This study provides a controllable method for specific types of inter-allotropic transformations/hybridizations, which opens up the further possibility for the engineering of nanocarbon allotropes in the robust large-scale network-based devices.

In-vitro model for evaluation of pulse oximetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vegfors, Magnus; Lindberg, Lars-Goeran; Lennmarken, Claes; Oberg, P. Ake

1991-06-01

An in vitro model with blood circulating in a silicon tubing system and including an artificial arterial bed is an important tool for evaluation of the pulse oximetry technique. The oxygen saturation was measured on an artificial finger using a pulse oximeter (SpO2) and on blood samples using a hemoximeter (SaO2). Measurements were performed at different blood flows and at different blood hematocrits. An increase in steady as well as in pulsatile blood flow was followed by an increase in pulse oximeter readings and a better agreement between SpO2 and SaO2 readings. After diluting the blood with normal saline (decreased hematocrit) the agreement was further improved. These results indicate that the pulse oximeter signal is related to blood hematocrit and the velocity of blood. The flow-related dependance of SpO2 was also evaluated in a human model. These results provided evidence that the pulse oximeter signal is dependent on vascular changes.

Pulse oximetry recorded from the Phone Oximeter for detection of obstructive sleep apnea events with and without oxygen desaturation in children.

PubMed

Garde, Ainara; Dehkordi, Parastoo; Wensley, David; Ansermino, J Mark; Dumont, Guy A

2015-01-01

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) disrupts normal ventilation during sleep and can lead to serious health problems in children if left untreated. Polysomnography, the gold standard for OSA diagnosis, is resource intensive and requires a specialized laboratory. Thus, we proposed to use the Phone Oximeter™, a portable device integrating pulse oximetry with a smartphone, to detect OSA events. As a proportion of OSA events occur without oxygen desaturation (defined as SpO2 decreases ≥ 3%), we suggest combining SpO2 and pulse rate variability (PRV) analysis to identify all OSA events and provide a more detailed sleep analysis. We recruited 160 children and recorded pulse oximetry consisting of SpO2 and plethysmography (PPG) using the Phone Oximeter™, alongside standard polysomnography. A sleep technician visually scored all OSA events with and without oxygen desaturation from polysomnography. We divided pulse oximetry signals into 1-min signal segments and extracted several features from SpO2 and PPG analysis in the time and frequency domain. Segments with OSA, especially the ones with oxygen desaturation, presented greater SpO2 variability and modulation reflected in the spectral domain than segments without OSA. Segments with OSA also showed higher heart rate and sympathetic activity through the PRV analysis relative to segments without OSA. PRV analysis was more sensitive than SpO2 analysis for identification of OSA events without oxygen desaturation. Combining SpO2 and PRV analysis enhanced OSA event detection through a multiple logistic regression model. The area under the ROC curve increased from 81% to 87%. Thus, the Phone Oximeter™ might be useful to monitor sleep and identify OSA events with and without oxygen desaturation at home.

Gunshot residue (GSR) analysis by single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS).

PubMed

Heringer, Rodrigo D; Ranville, James F

2018-05-25

Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) was investigated as a screening-level technique for the analysis and characterization of inorganic gunshot residue (IGSR) nanoparticles. spICP-MS works with undigested samples whereby nanoparticles (NPs) in a suspension are individually atomized and ionized as they reach the plasma, each resulting in a pulse of analyte ions that can be quantified. The method is rapid, and signals from hundreds of NPs can be collected in 1-2min per sample. The technique is quantitative for NP mass and number concentration when only one element (single element mode) is measured using a quadrupole MS. Likewise, a qualitative elemental fingerprint can be obtained for individual NPs when peak-hopping between two elements (dual element mode). For this proof of concept study, each shooter's hand was sampled with ultrapure water or swab to obtain NPs suspensions. Measurements of antimony, barium, and lead were performed using both analysis modes. With no sample preparation and fully automated sample introduction, it is possible to analyze more than 100 samples in a day. Results show that this technique opens a new perspective for future research on GSR sample identification and characterization and can complement SEM/EDX analysis. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effect of subareolar isosulfan blue injection on pulse oximeter readings.

PubMed

Zengel, Baha; Yararbas, Ulkem; Bingolballi, Ozge; Denecli, Ali Galip

2014-02-01

Besides several side effects including anaphylaxis, blue dyes are also known to cause false pulse oximeter readings. We aimed to examine the effects of subareolar isosulfan blue injection on pulse oximeter (SpO2) readings. The study group included 27 patients undergoing SLNB using both radiocolloid and isosulfan blue. Another group of 27 patients constituted the control group. Pulse oximeter readings were compared. SpO2 decline ≥4 % was defined as significant. All but one (96.2 %) of the patients in the study group showed SpO2 declines, compared to only one patient in the control group. Median ± Interqartile Range (IR) SpO2 decrease was 3.0 ± 4.0 % in the study and 0.0 ± 1.0 % in the control group (p < 0.001). There were significant (≥4 %) SpO2 decreases in 13 (48.1 %) patients in the study group. Statistically significant differences were noted between the two groups in all recordings between 15 and 180 min (p < 0.001). Initial time for SpO2 fall and the time to the lowest SpO2 recording were 10.0 ± 10.0 and 40.0 ± 30.0 min respectively. Using subareolar injection, the frequency of false readings is comparable with intraparenchymal injections, and is higher than intradermal injections. Time to peak SpO2 fall, and the recovery period, are delayed in the subareolar technique.

Reliability and Validity of a Smartphone-Paired Pulse Oximeter for Screening of Critical Congenital Heart Defects in Newborns.

PubMed

Huizing, Maurice J; Villamor-Martínez, Eduardo; Chavagne, Ingrid A; Vanagt, Ward Y; Spaanderman, Marc A E; Villamor, Eduardo

2017-01-01

Barriers to widespread implementation of pulse oximetry screening of critical congenital heart defects (CCHD) in newborns include increasing trends of out-of-hospital births and cost of equipment. In recent years, smartphone-compatible pulse oximeters have appeared on the market, but the validity of such devices in the setting of CCHD screening has not been evaluated. To compare the performance in CCHD screening of a smartphone-paired pulse oximeter (Masimo iSpO2-Rx™) and a hospital-grade pulse oximeter (Masimo Radical-7™). Preductal (right hand) and postductal (either foot) saturations were determined in a population of 201 term newborns by 2 independent teams, one using the Radical-7 and the other using the iSpO2-Rx. Bland-Altman analysis was applied to calculate mean bias and 95% limits of agreement between the 2 pulse oximeters. For the preductal oxygen saturation, the mean bias (Radical-7 minus iSpO2-Rx) was -0.08 (SD 1.76) and the lower and upper limits of agreement were -3.52 and 3.36, respectively. For the postductal oxygen saturation, the mean bias was -0.11 (SD 1.68) and the lower and upper limits of agreement were -3.49 and 3.18, respectively. In addition, the iSpO2-Rx provided reliable measurements of saturations below 95% in a group of 12 infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Our data suggest that CCHD screening with the Masimo iSpO2-Rx is feasible and accurate. The use of reliable smartphone-paired pulse oximeters may contribute to the extension of CCHD screening to home births and low resource settings. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Evaluation of Masimo signal extraction technology pulse oximetry in anaesthetized pregnant sheep.

PubMed

Quinn, Christopher T; Raisis, Anthea L; Musk, Gabrielle C

2013-03-01

Evaluation of the accuracy of Masimo signal extraction technology (SET) pulse oximetry in anaesthetized late gestational pregnant sheep. Prospective experimental study. Seventeen pregnant Merino ewes. Animals included in study were late gestation ewes undergoing general anaesthesia for Caesarean delivery or foetal surgery in a medical research laboratory. Masimo Radical-7 pulse oximetry (SpO(2) ) measurements were compared to co-oximetry (SaO(2) ) measurements from arterial blood gas analyses. The failure rate of the pulse oximeter was calculated. Accuracy was assessed by Bland & Altman's (2007) limits of agreement method. The effect of mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), perfusion index (PI) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration on accuracy were assessed by regression analysis. Forty arterial blood samples paired with SpO(2) and blood pressure measurements were obtained. SpO(2) ranged from 42 to 99% and SaO(2) from 43.7 to 99.9%. MAP ranged from 24 to 82 mmHg, PI from 0.1 to 1.56 and Hb concentration from 71 to 114 g L(-1) . Masimo pulse oximetry measurements tended to underestimate oxyhaemoglobin saturation compared to co-oximetry with a bias (mean difference) of -2% and precision (standard deviation of the differences) of 6%. Accuracy appeared to decrease when SpO(2) was <75%, however numbers were too small for statistical comparisons. Hb concentration and PI had no significant effect on accuracy, whereas MAP was negatively correlated with SpO(2) bias. Masimo SET pulse oximetry can provide reliable and continuous monitoring of arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation in anaesthetized pregnant sheep during clinically relevant levels of cardiopulmonary dysfunction. Further work is needed to assess pulse oximeter function during extreme hypotension and hypoxaemia. © 2012 The Authors. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. © 2012 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists.

Double pulse laser induced breakdown spectroscopy: A potential tool for the analysis of contaminants and macro/micronutrients in organic mineral fertilizers.

PubMed

Nicolodelli, Gustavo; Senesi, Giorgio Saverio; de Oliveira Perazzoli, Ivan Luiz; Marangoni, Bruno Spolon; De Melo Benites, Vinícius; Milori, Débora Marcondes Bastos Pereira

2016-09-15

Organic fertilizers are obtained from waste of plant or animal origin. One of the advantages of organic fertilizers is that, from the composting, it recycles waste-organic of urban and agriculture origin, whose disposal would cause environmental impacts. Fast and accurate analysis of both major and minor/trace elements contained in organic mineral and inorganic fertilizers of new generation have promoted the application of modern analytical techniques. In particular, laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is showing to be a very promising, quick and practical technique to detect and measure contaminants and nutrients in fertilizers. Although, this technique presents some limitations, such as a low sensitivity, if compared to other spectroscopic techniques, the use of double pulse (DP) LIBS is an alternative to the conventional LIBS in single pulse (SP). The macronutrients (Ca, Mg, K, P), micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Na, Mn, Zn) and contaminant (Cr) in fertilizer using LIBS in SP and DP configurations were evaluated. A comparative study for both configurations was performed using optimized key parameters for improving LIBS performance. The limit of detection (LOD) values obtained by DP LIBS increased up to seven times as compared to SP LIBS. In general, the marked improvement obtained when using DP system in the simultaneous LIBS quantitative determination for fertilizers analysis could be ascribed to the larger ablated mass of the sample. The results presented in this study show the promising potential of the DP LIBS technique for a qualitative analysis in fertilizers, without requiring sample preparation with chemical reagents. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Oxygen saturation profile in healthy preterm infants.

PubMed

Harigopal, S; Satish, H P; Taktak, A F G; Southern, K W; Shaw, N J

2011-09-01

To establish a reference range for oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) in well preterm infants to guide home oxygen therapy using a pulse oximeter and Pulse Oximetry Data Analysis Software (PODS). SpO(2) and heart-rate profiles of healthy preterm infants receiving mechanical ventilation for less than 6 h and supplemental oxygen for less than 48 h were monitored using a pulse oximeter. The stored data were downloaded from the monitor to a personal computer as individual files. Each infant's files of SpO(2) were subsequently displayed in graphic form, and a reference range was constructed using dedicated software, PODS. 43 infants were studied. The median value of all infants mean SpO(2) values was 95% (range 92-99%). The median duration of saturations less than 85% and between 85% and 90 % were 1% and 2% respectively. Using the study group median, 5th and 95th percentiles, a cumulative frequency curve of time against SpO(2) value was constructed (representing the reference range of SpO(2) profiles in healthy preterm infants). The SpO(2) reference range can be used as an easy and practical guide to compare SpO(2) profiles of infants on home oxygen therapy and guide their oxygen therapy.

Do changes in pulse oximeter oxygen saturation predict equivalent changes in arterial oxygen saturation?

PubMed Central

Perkins, Gavin D; McAuley, Daniel F; Giles, Simon; Routledge, Helen; Gao, Fang

2003-01-01

Introduction This study investigates the relation between changes in pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (SpO2) and changes in arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) in the critically ill, and the effects of acidosis and anaemia on precision of using pulse oximetry to predict SaO2. Patients and methods Forty-one consecutive patients were recruited from a nine-bed general intensive care unit into a 2-month study. Patients with significant jaundice (bilirubin >40 μmol/l) or inadequate pulse oximetry tracing were excluded. Results A total of 1085 paired readings demonstrated only moderate correlation (r= 0.606; P < 0.01) between changes in SpO2 and those in SaO2, and the pulse oximeter tended to overestimate actual changes in SaO2. Anaemia increased the degree of positive bias whereas acidosis reduced it. However, the magnitude of these changes was small. Conclusion Changes in SpO2 do not reliably predict equivalent changes in SaO2 in the critically ill. Neither anaemia nor acidosis alters the relation between SpO2 and SaO2 to any clinically important extent. PMID:12930558

Enhancement and stabilization of plasma using collinear long-short double-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Minchao; Deguchi, Yoshihiro; Wang, Zhenzhen; Fujita, Yuki; Liu, Renwei; Shiou, Fang-Jung; Zhao, Shengdun

2018-04-01

A collinear long-short dual-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (DP-LIBS) method was employed to enhance and stabilize the laser-induced plasma from steel sample. The long-pulse-width laser beam with the pulse width of 60 μs was generated by a Nd: YAG laser which was operated at FR (free running) mode. The comparative experiments were carried out between single pulse LIBS (SP-LIBS) and long-short DP-LIBS. The recorded results showed that the emission intensities and the temperature of plasma were enhanced by long-short DP-LIBS. The plasma images showed that the plasma was bigger and had a longer lifetime in long-short DP-LIBS situation. Through the calculation of time-resolved plasma temperature and intensity ratio, it can be concluded that the plasma was stabilized by the long-pulse-width laser beam. The long-short DP-LIBS method also generated the stable plasma condition from the samples with different initial temperatures, which overcame the difficulties of LIBS in the online measurement for steel production line.

ARECIBO PULSAR SURVEY USING ALFA: PROBING RADIO PULSAR INTERMITTENCY AND TRANSIENTS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Deneva, J. S.; Cordes, J. M.; McLaughlin, M. A.

We present radio transient search algorithms, results, and statistics from the ongoing Arecibo Pulsar ALFA (PALFA) survey of the Galactic plane. We have discovered seven objects through a search for isolated dispersed pulses. All of these objects are Galactic and have measured periods between 0.4 and 4.7 s. One of the new discoveries has a duty cycle of 0.01%, smaller than that of any other radio pulsar. We discuss the impact of selection effects on the detectability and classification of intermittent sources, and compare the efficiencies of periodicity and single-pulse (SP) searches for various pulsar classes. For some cases wemore » find that the apparent intermittency is likely to be caused by off-axis detection or a short time window that selects only a few bright pulses and favors detection with our SP algorithm. In other cases, the intermittency appears to be intrinsic to the source. No transients were found with DMs large enough to require that they originate from sources outside our Galaxy. Accounting for the on-axis gain of the ALFA system, as well as the low gain but large solid-angle coverage of far-out sidelobes, we use the results of the survey so far to place limits on the amplitudes and event rates of transients of arbitrary origin.« less

Investigation of photoplethysmographic signals and blood oxygen saturation values on healthy volunteers during cuff-induced hypoperfusion using a multimode PPG/SpO₂ sensor.

PubMed

Shafique, M; Kyriacou, P A; Pal, S K

2012-06-01

Photoplethysmography (PPG) is a technique widely used to monitor volumetric blood changes induced by cardiac pulsations. Pulse oximetry uses the technique of PPG to estimate arterial oxygen saturation values (SpO₂). In poorly perfused tissues, SpO₂ readings may be compromised due to the poor quality of the PPG signals. A multimode finger PPG probe that operates simultaneously in reflectance, transmittance and a combined mode called "transreflectance" was developed, in an effort to improve the quality of the PPG signals in states of hypoperfusion. Experiments on 20 volunteers were conducted to evaluate the performance of the multimode PPG sensor and compare the results with a commercial transmittance pulse oximeter. A brachial blood pressure cuff was used to induce artificial hypoperfusion. Results showed that the amplitude of the transreflectance AC PPG signals were significantly different (p < 0.05) than the AC PPG signals obtained from the other two conventional PPG sensors (reflectance and transmittance). At induced brachial pressures between 90 and 135 mmHg, the reflectance finger pulse oximeter failed 25 times (failure rate 42.2 %) to estimate SpO₂ values, whereas the transmittance pulse oximeter failed 8 times (failure rate 15.5 %). The transreflectance pulse oximeter failed only 3 times (failure rate 6.8 %) and the commercial pulse oximeter failed 17 times (failure rate 29.4 %).

Hypoxia: Exposure Time Until Significant Performance Effects

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-07

arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) from the temporal artery. Datex-Ohmeda 3900 P Pulse Oximeter . The Datex-Ohmeda 3900 P pulse oximeter measured SpO2 at...flight helmet. Nonin ® model 8000 R Ear Cup Sensor. The Nonin ® model 8000 R in-helmet ear cup reflectance sensor is an oximeter that measures

Motion resistant pulse oximetry in neonates

PubMed Central

Sahni, R; Gupta, A; Ohira-Kist, K; Rosen, T

2003-01-01

Background: Pulse oximetry is widely used in neonates. However, its reliability is often affected by motion artefact. Clinicians confronted with questionable oxygen saturation (SpO2) values often estimate the reliability by correlating heart rate (HR) obtained with the oximeter with that obtained by electrocardiogram. Objective: To compare the effects of motion on SpO2 and HR measurements made with Masimo signal extraction technology and those made with a Nellcor N-200. Design: Continuous pulse oximetry and HR monitoring were performed in 15 healthy, term infants (mean (SD) birth weight 3408 (458) g) undergoing circumcision, using Masimo and Nellcor pulse oximeters and a standard HR monitor (Hewlett-Packard). Simultaneous minute by minute behavioural activity codes were also assigned. Baseline data were collected for 10 minutes when the infant was quietly asleep and then continued during and after circumcision for a total duration of one hour. The oximeter HR and SpO2 values were compared and related to HR values obtained by ECG during all three periods. The effect of behavioural activity on SpO2 and HR was also evaluated. Results: When compared with results obtained with the Nellcor, the mean SpO2 and HR were higher and the incidence of artefact lower with the Masimo during all three periods. Masimo HR more accurately predicted HR obtained with a standard monitor, with lower residual error. SpO2 and HR values obtained with the Nellcor were lower and more variable during all behavioural states, especially crying, when excessive motion artefact was most likely. Conclusions: The data suggest that Masimo signal extraction technology may offer improvement in pulse oximetry performance, particularly in clinical situations in which extreme motion artefacts are likely. PMID:14602699

Multiple diagnosis based on photoplethysmography: hematocrit, SpO2, pulse, and respiration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, Gilwon; Lee, Jong Y.; Jeon, Kye Jin; Park, Kun-Kook; Yeo, Hyung S.; Hwang, Hyun T.; Kim, Hong S.; Hwang, In-Duk

2002-09-01

Photo-plethysmography measures pulsatile blood flow in real-time and non-invasively. One of widely known applications of PPG is the measurement of saturated oxygen in arterial blood(SpO2). In our work, using several wavelengths more than those used in a pulse oximeter, an algorithm and instrument have been developed to measure hematocrit, saturated oxygen, pulse and respiratory rates simultaneously. To predict hematocrit, a dedicated algorithm is developed based on scattering of RBC and a protocol for detecting outlier signals is used to increase accuracy and reliability. Digital filtering techniques are used to extract respiratory rate signals. Utilization of wavelengths under 1000nm and a multi-wavelength LED array chip and digital-oriented electronics enable us to make a compact device. Our preliminary clinical trials show that the achieved percent errors are +/-8.2% for hematocrit when tested with 594 persons, R2 for SpO2 fitting is 0.99985 when tested with a Bi-Tek pulse oximeter simulator and the SpO2 error for in vivo test is +/-2.5% over the range of 75~100%. The error of pulse rates is less than +/-5%. We obtained a positive predictive value of 96% for respiratory rates in qualitative analysis.

A two centre observational study of simultaneous pulse oximetry and arterial oxygen saturation recordings in intensive care unit patients.

PubMed

Ebmeier, S J; Barker, M; Bacon, M; Beasley, R C; Bellomo, R; Knee Chong, C; Eastwood, G M; Gilchrist, J; Kagaya, H; Pilcher, J; Reddy, S K; Ridgeon, E; Sarma, N; Sprogis, S; Tanaka, A; Tweedie, M; Weatherall, M; Young, P J

2018-05-01

The influence of variables that might affect the accuracy of pulse oximetry (SpO₂) recordings in critically ill patients is not well established. We sought to describe the relationship between paired SpO₂/SaO₂ (oxygen saturation via arterial blood gas analysis) in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients and to describe the diagnostic performance of SpO₂ in detecting low SaO₂ and PaO₂. A paired SpO₂/SaO₂ measurement was obtained from 404 adults in ICU. Measurements were used to calculate bias, precision, and limits of agreement. Associations between bias and variables including vasopressor and inotrope use, capillary refill time, hand temperature, pulse pressure, body temperature, oximeter model, and skin colour were estimated. There was no overall statistically significant bias in paired SpO₂/SaO₂ measurements; observed limits of agreement were +/-4.4%. However, body temperature, oximeter model, and skin colour, were statistically significantly associated with the degree of bias. SpO₂ <89% had a sensitivity of 3/7 (42.9%; 95% confidence intervals, CI, 9.9% to 81.6%) and a specificity of 344/384 (89.6%; 95% CI 86.1% to 92.5%) for detecting SaO₂ <89%. The absence of statistically significant bias in paired SpO₂/SaO₂ in adult ICU patients provides support for the use of pulse oximetry to titrate oxygen therapy. However, SpO₂ recordings alone should be used cautiously when SaO₂ recordings of 4.4% higher or lower than the observed SpO₂ would be of concern. A range of variables relevant to the critically ill had little or no effect on bias.

Pulse oximetry: fundamentals and technology update.

PubMed

Nitzan, Meir; Romem, Ayal; Koppel, Robert

2014-01-01

Oxygen saturation in the arterial blood (SaO2) provides information on the adequacy of respiratory function. SaO2 can be assessed noninvasively by pulse oximetry, which is based on photoplethysmographic pulses in two wavelengths, generally in the red and infrared regions. The calibration of the measured photoplethysmographic signals is performed empirically for each type of commercial pulse-oximeter sensor, utilizing in vitro measurement of SaO2 in extracted arterial blood by means of co-oximetry. Due to the discrepancy between the measurement of SaO2 by pulse oximetry and the invasive technique, the former is denoted as SpO2. Manufacturers of pulse oximeters generally claim an accuracy of 2%, evaluated by the standard deviation (SD) of the differences between SpO2 and SaO2, measured simultaneously in healthy subjects. However, an SD of 2% reflects an expected error of 4% (two SDs) or more in 5% of the examinations, which is in accordance with an error of 3%-4%, reported in clinical studies. This level of accuracy is sufficient for the detection of a significant decline in respiratory function in patients, and pulse oximetry has been accepted as a reliable technique for that purpose. The accuracy of SpO2 measurement is insufficient in several situations, such as critically ill patients receiving supplemental oxygen, and can be hazardous if it leads to elevated values of oxygen partial pressure in blood. In particular, preterm newborns are vulnerable to retinopathy of prematurity induced by high oxygen concentration in the blood. The low accuracy of SpO2 measurement in critically ill patients and newborns can be attributed to the empirical calibration process, which is performed on healthy volunteers. Other limitations of pulse oximetry include the presence of dyshemoglobins, which has been addressed by multiwavelength pulse oximetry, as well as low perfusion and motion artifacts that are partially rectified by sophisticated algorithms and also by reflection pulse oximetry.

Efficacy and safety of using premedication with simethicone/Pronase during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy examination with sedation: A single center, prospective, single blinded, randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Zhang, Ling-Ye; Li, Wen-Yan; Ji, Ming; Liu, Fu-Kun; Chen, Guang-Yong; Wu, Shan-Shan; Hao, Qian; Zhai, Hui-Hong; Zhang, Shu-Tian

2018-01-01

To investigate the efficacy and safety of premedication with simethicone/Pronase during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with sedation. Six hundred and ten patients were randomly allocated to two groups based on type of premedication given. Premedication used in the control group was 10 mL lidocaine hydrochloride mucilage (LHM, N = 314) and premedication used in the intervention group was 80 mL simethicone/Pronase solution plus 10 mL lidocaine hydrochloride mucilage (SP/LHM, N = 296). EGD was done under sedation. Visibility scores, number of mucosal areas that needed cleansing, water consumption for cleansing, time taken for examination, diminutive lesions, pathological diagnosis, patients' gag reflex and oxygenation (pulse oximetry) were recorded. SP/LHM has significantly lower total visibility score than LHM (7.978 ± 1.526 vs 6.348 ± 1.097, P < 0.01). During the procedure, number of intragastric areas that needed cleansing and amount of water consumed were significantly less in the SP/LHM than in the LHM group (P < 0.01). In SP/LHM (P = 0.01), endoscopy procedure duration was significantly longer. Although there was no significant difference in rate of detection of diminutive lesions between LHM and SP/LHM, the endoscopist carried out more biopsies in SP/LHM. This led to a higher rate of diagnosis of atrophic gastritis (P = 0.014) and intestinal metaplasia (P = 0.024). There was no significant difference in gag reflex (P = 0.604) and oxygenation during the endoscopy procedure for either group of patients. Routine use of premedication with simethicone/Pronase should be recommended during EGD with sedation. © 2017 Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.

Non-Invasive Measurements of Carboxyhemoglobin and Methemoglobin in Children with Sickle Cell Disease

PubMed Central

Caboot, Jason B.; Jawad, Abbas F.; McDonough, Joseph M.; Bowdre, Cheryl Y.; Arens, Raanan; Marcus, Carole L.; Mason, Thornton B.A.; Smith-Whitley, Kim; Ohene-Frempong, Kwaku; Allen, Julian L.

2012-01-01

SUMMARY Assessment of oxyhemoglobin saturation in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) is vital for prompt recognition of hypoxemia. The accuracy of pulse oximeter measurements of blood oxygenation in SCD patients is variable, partially due to carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and methemoglobin (MetHb), which decrease the oxygen content of blood. This study evaluated the accuracy and reliability of a non-invasive pulse co-oximeter in measuring COHb and MetHb percentages (SpCO and SpMet) in children with SCD. We hypothesized that measurements of COHb and MetHb by non-invasive pulse co-oximetry agree within acceptable clinical accuracy with those made by invasive whole blood co-oximetry. Fifty children with SCD-SS underwent pulse co-oximetry and blood co-oximetry while breathing room air. Non-invasive COHb and MetHb readings were compared to the corresponding blood measurements. The pulse co-oximeter bias was 0.1% for COHb and −0.22% for MetHb. The precision of the measured SpCO was ±2.1% within a COHb range of 0.4–6.1%, and the precision of the measured SpMet was ±0.33% within a MetHb range of 0.1–1.1%. Non-invasive pulse co-oximetry was useful in measuring COHb and MetHb levels in children with SCD. Although the non-invasive technique slightly overestimated the invasive COHb measurements and slightly underestimated the invasive MetHb measurements, there was close agreement between the two methods. PMID:22328189

Non-invasive measurements of carboxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin in children with sickle cell disease.

PubMed

Caboot, Jason B; Jawad, Abbas F; McDonough, Joseph M; Bowdre, Cheryl Y; Arens, Raanan; Marcus, Carole L; Mason, Thornton B A; Smith-Whitley, Kim; Ohene-Frempong, Kwaku; Allen, Julian L

2012-08-01

Assessment of oxyhemoglobin saturation in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) is vital for prompt recognition of hypoxemia. The accuracy of pulse oximeter measurements of blood oxygenation in SCD patients is variable, partially due to carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and methemoglobin (MetHb), which decrease the oxygen content of blood. This study evaluated the accuracy and reliability of a non-invasive pulse co-oximeter in measuring COHb and MetHb percentages (SpCO and SpMet) in children with SCD. We hypothesized that measurements of COHb and MetHb by non-invasive pulse co-oximetry agree within acceptable clinical accuracy with those made by invasive whole blood co-oximetry. Fifty children with SCD-SS underwent pulse co-oximetry and blood co-oximetry while breathing room air. Non-invasive COHb and MetHb readings were compared to the corresponding blood measurements. The pulse co-oximeter bias was 0.1% for COHb and -0.22% for MetHb. The precision of the measured SpCO was ± 2.1% within a COHb range of 0.4-6.1%, and the precision of the measured SpMet was ± 0.33% within a MetHb range of 0.1-1.1%. Non-invasive pulse co-oximetry was useful in measuring COHb and MetHb levels in children with SCD. Although the non-invasive technique slightly overestimated the invasive COHb measurements and slightly underestimated the invasive MetHb measurements, there was close agreement between the two methods. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Evaluation of analytic and motion-resistant performance of the Mindray 9006 pulse oximeter.

PubMed

Peng, Liming; Yan, Cunliang; Lu, Hong; Xia, Yong

2007-08-01

The Mindray 9006 is a newly developed pulse oximeter. The performance of noninvasive monitoring of arterial oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO(2)) and pulse rate (PR) with the Mindray 9006 was evaluated. Twenty healthy volunteers participated in this study. The Mindray 9006 was evaluated according to guidelines including HS3-A, EP5-A, and EP9-A2 published by the CLSI, and ISO 9919. A blinded side-by-side comparison of the Mindray 9006 and the Masimo MS-3 oximeter was also performed. The results demonstrated that the coefficients of variation (CV) of imprecision were less than 1% for SpO(2) and less than 5% for PR analyzed by the Mindray 9006. Comparisons of methods showed there was no significant difference in SpO(2)/PR analysis between the Mindray 9006 with Rapidlab 855 CO-oxymeter or 812 Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor (p>0.05) and between the Mindray 9006 and Masimo MS-3 (p>0.05). There was good correlation for SpO(2) between the Mindray 9006 and CO-oxymetry or the Masimo MS-3 (r>0.96) and for PR between the Mindray 9006 and ECG or the Masimo MS-3 (r>0.98). The accuracy as the root-mean-square (A(rms)) was less than 3% for both SpO(2) and PR between the Mindray 9006 and CO-oxymetry or between the Mindray 9006 and ECG. Also, there was no significant difference for SpO(2)/PR between the motion and rest conditions (p>0.05). The overall performance of the Mindray 9006 for SpO(2) and PR analysis is excellent and compares favorably with the Masimo MS-3.

Impact of medical training and clinical experience on the assessment of oxygenation and hypoxaemia after general anaesthesia: an observational study.

PubMed

Aust, Hansjörg; Kranke, Peter; Eberhart, Leopold H J; Afshari, Arash; Weber, Frank; Brieskorn, Melanie; Heine, Julian; Arndt, Christian; Rüsch, Dirk

2015-06-01

In Germany it is common practice to use pulse oximetry and supplementary oxygen only on request in patients breathing spontaneously transferred to the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) following surgery under general anaesthesia. The main aim was to study the influence of medical training and clinical experience on assessing SpO(2) and detecting hypoxaemia in these patients. The second aim was to do a preliminary assessment whether this practice can be found in countries other than Germany. Anaesthetists, nurses and medical students estimated SpO(2) in patients breathing room air at the end of transfer to the PACU following surgery (including all major surgical fields) under general anaesthesia. Estimated SpO(2) was compared to SpO(2) measured by pulse oximetry. A survey was carried out among European anaesthesists concerning the use of pulse oximetry and supplementary oxygen during patient transfer to the PACU. Hypoxaemia (SpO(2) < 90 %) occurred in 154 (13.5 %) out of 1,138 patients. Anaesthetists, nurses, and medical students identified only 25, 23, and 21 patients of those as being hypoxaemic, respectively. Clinical experience did not improve detection of hypoxaemia both in anaesthetists (p = 0.63) and nurses (p = 0.18). Use of pulse oximetry and supplemental oxygen during patient transfer to the PACU in European countries differs to a large extent. It seems to be applied only on request in many hospitals. Considering the uncertainty about deleterious effects of transient, short lasting hypoxaemia routine use of pulse oximetry is advocated for patient transfer to the PACU.

A Prototype of Reflection Pulse Oximeter Designed for Mobile Healthcare.

PubMed

Lu, Zhiyuan; Chen, Xiang; Dong, Zhongfei; Zhao, Zhangyan; Zhang, Xu

2016-09-01

This paper introduces a pulse oximeter prototype designed for mobile healthcare. In this prototype, a reflection pulse oximeter is embedded into the back cover of a smart handheld device to offer the convenient measurement of both heart rate (HR) and SpO2 (estimation of arterial oxygen saturation) for home or mobile applications. Novel and miniaturized circuit modules including a chopper network and a filtering amplifier were designed to overcome the influence of ambient light and interferences that are caused by embedding the sensor into a flat cover. A method based on adaptive trough detection for improved HR and SpO2 estimation is proposed with appropriate simplification for its implementation on mobile devices. A fast and effective photoplethysmogram validation scheme is also proposed. Clinical experiments have been carried out to calibrate and test our oximeter. Our prototype oximeter can achieve comparable performance to a clinical oximeter with no significant difference revealed by paired t -tests ( p = 0.182 for SpO2 measurement and p = 0.496 for HR measurement). The design of this pulse oximeter will facilitate fast and convenient measurement of SpO2 for mobile healthcare.

The Impact of Averaging Window Length on the “Desaturation” Indexes Obtained Via Overnight Pulse Oximetry at High Altitude

PubMed Central

Cross, Troy J.; Keller-Ross, Manda; Issa, Amine; Wentz, Robert; Taylor, Bryan; Johnson, Bruce

2015-01-01

Study Objectives: To determine the impact of averaging window-length on the “desaturation” indexes (DIs) obtained via overnight pulse oximetry (SpO2) at high altitude. Design: Overnight SpO2 data were collected during a 10-day sojourn at high altitude. SpO2 was obtained using a commercial wrist-worn finger oximeter whose firmware was modified to store unaveraged beat-to-beat data. Simple moving averages of window lengths spanning 2 to 20 cardiac beats were retrospectively applied to beat-to-beat SpO2 datasets. After SpO2 artifacts were removed, the following DIs were then calculated for each of the averaged datasets: oxygen desaturation index (ODI); total sleep time with SpO2 < 80% (TST < 80), and the lowest SpO2 observed during sleep (SpO2 low). Setting: South Base Camp, Mt. Everest (5,364 m elevation). Participants: Five healthy, adult males (35 ± 5 y; 180 ± 1 cm; 85 ± 4 kg). Interventions: N/A. Measurements and Results: 49 datasets were obtained from the 5 participants, totalling 239 hours of data. For all window lengths ≥ 2 beats, ODI and TST < 80 were lower, and SpO2 low was higher than those values obtained from the beat-to-beat SpO2 time series data (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that increasing oximeter averaging window length progressively underestimates the frequency and magnitude of sleep disordered breathing events at high altitude, as indirectly assessed via the desaturation indexes. Citation: Cross TJ, Keller-Ross M, Issa A, Wentz R, Taylor B, Johnson B. The impact of averaging window length on the “desaturation” indexes obtained via overnight pulse oximetry at high altitude. SLEEP 2015;38(8):1331–1334. PMID:25581919

Improving the detectability of oxygen saturation level targets for preterm neonates: A laboratory test of tremolo and beacon sonifications.

PubMed

Deschamps, Marie-Lys; Sanderson, Penelope; Hinckfuss, Kelly; Browning, Caitlin; Loeb, Robert G; Liley, Helen; Liu, David

2016-09-01

Recent guidelines recommend oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels of 90%-95% for preterm neonates on supplemental oxygen but it is difficult to discern such levels with current pulse oximetry sonifications. We tested (1) whether adding levels of tremolo to a conventional log-linear pulse oximetry sonification would improve identification of SpO2 ranges, and (2) whether adding a beacon reference tone to conventional pulse oximetry confuses listeners about the direction of change. Participants using the Tremolo (94%) or Beacon (81%) sonifications identified SpO2 range significantly more accurately than participants using the LogLinear sonification (52%). The Beacon sonification did not confuse participants about direction of change. The Tremolo sonification may have advantages over the Beacon sonification for monitoring SpO2 of preterm neonates, but both must be further tested with clinicians in clinically representative scenarios, and with different levels of ambient noise and distractions. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A comparison of oxygen saturation measurements obtained from a 'blue sensor' with a standard sensor.

PubMed

Mawson, Isabel E; Dawson, Jennifer A; Donath, Susan M; Davis, Peter G

2011-10-01

The study aims to investigate pulse oximetry measurements from a 'blue' pulse oximeter sensor against measurements from a 'standard' pulse oximeter sensor in newly born infants. Immediately after birth, both sensors were attached to the infant, one to each foot. SpO₂ measurements were recorded simultaneously from each sensor for 10 min. Agreement between pairs of SpO₂ measurements were calculated using Bland-Altman analysis. Thirty-one infants were studied. There was good correlation between simultaneous SpO₂ measurements from both sensors (r² = 0.75). However, the mean difference between 'blue' and 'standard' sensors was -1.6%, with wide 95% limits of agreement +18.4 to -21.6%. The range of mean difference between sensors from each infant ranged from -20 to +20. The mean difference between the blue and standard sensor SpO₂ measurements is not clinically important. © 2011 The Authors. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health © 2011 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (Royal Australasian College of Physicians).

Pulse oximeter oxygen saturation in prediction of arterial oxygen saturation in liver transplant candidates.

PubMed

Ghayumi, Seiyed Mohammad Ali; Khalafi-Nezhad, Abolfazl; Jowkar, Zahra

2014-04-01

Liver transplant is the only definitive treatment for many patients with end stage liver disease. Presence and severity of preoperative pulmonary disease directly affect the rate of postoperative complications of the liver transplantation. Arterial blood gas (ABG) measurement, performed in many transplant centers, is considered as a traditional method to diagnose hypoxemia. Because ABG measurement is invasive and painful, pulse oximetry, a bedside, noninvasive and inexpensive technique, has been recommended as an alternative source for the ABG measurement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pulse oximetry as a screening tool in hypoxemia detection in liver transplant candidates and to compare the results with ABGs. Three hundred and ninety transplant candidates (237 males and 153 females) participated in this study. Arterial blood gas oxyhemoglobin saturation (SaO2) was recorded and compared with pulse oximetry oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2) results for each participants. The area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was calculated by means of nonparametric methods to evaluate the efficacy of pulse oximetry to detect hypoxemia. Roc-derived SpO2 threshold of ≤ 94% can predict hypoxemia (PaO2 < 60 mmHg) with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 95%. Furthermore, there are associations between the ROC-derived SpO2 threshold of ≤ 97% and detection of hypoxemia (PaO2 < 70 mmHg) with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 46%. The accuracy of pulse oximetry was not affected by the severity of liver disease in detection of hypoxemia. Provided that SpO2 is equal to or greater than 94%, attained from pulse oximetry can be used as a reliable and accurate substitute for the ABG measurements to evaluate hypoxemia in patients with end stage liver disease.

Pulse oximeter saturation target limits for preterm infants: a survey among European neonatal intensive care units.

PubMed

Huizing, Maurice J; Villamor-Martínez, Eduardo; Vento, Máximo; Villamor, Eduardo

2017-01-01

The optimum range of pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) for preterm infants remains controversial. Between November 2015 and February 2016, we conducted a web-based survey aimed to investigate the current and former practices on SpO 2 targets in European neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). We obtained valid responses from 193 NICUs, treating 8590 newborns ≤28 weeks per year, across 27 countries. Forty different saturation ranges were reported, ranging from 82-93 to 94-99%. The most frequently utilized SpO 2 ranges were 90-95% (28%), 88-95% (12%), 90-94% (5%), and 91-95% (5%). A total of 156 NICUs (81%) changed their SpO 2 limits over the last 10 years. The most frequently reported former limits were 88-92% (18%), 85-95% (9%), 88-93 (7%), and 85-92% (6%). The NICUs that increased their SpO 2 ranges expected to obtain a reduction in mortality. A 54% of the NICUs found the scientific evidence supporting their SpO 2 targeting policy strong or very strong. We detected a high degree of heterogeneity in pulse oximeter SpO 2 target limits across European NICUs. The currently used limits are 3 to 5% higher than the former limits, and the most extreme limits, such as lower below 85% or upper above 96%, have almost been abandoned. What is Known: • For preterm infants requiring supplemental oxygen, the optimum range of pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) to minimize organ damage, without causing hypoxic injury, remains controversial. What is New: • This survey highlights the lack of consensus regarding SpO 2 target limits for preterm infants among European neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). We detected 40 different SpO 2 ranges, and even the most frequently reported range (i.e., 90-95%) was used in only 28% of the 193 respondent NICUs. • A total of 156 NICUs (81%) changed their SpO 2 limits over the last 10 years. The currently used limits are 3 to 5% higher than the former limits, and the most extreme limits, such as lower below 85% or upper above 96%, have almost been abandoned.

Fractional CO2 laser is an effective therapeutic modality for xanthelasma palpebrarum: a randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Esmat, Samia M; Elramly, Amany Z; Abdel Halim, Dalia M; Gawdat, Heba I; Taha, Hanaa I

2014-12-01

Xanthelasma palpebrarum (XP) is a common cosmetic concern. Although there is a wide range of therapeutic modalities for XP, there is no general consensus on the optimal treatment for such condition. Compare the efficacy and safety of super pulsed (SP) and fractional CO2 lasers in the treatment of XP. This prospective randomized comparative clinical study included 20 adult patients with bilateral and symmetrical XP lesions. Xanthelasma palpebrarum lesions were randomly assigned to treatment by either single session of ablative SP CO2 laser or 3 to 5 sessions of ablative fractional CO2 laser with monthly intervals. All patients were assessed using digital photography and optical coherence tomography images. Xanthelasma palpebrarum lesions on both sides were successfully removed with significant improvement in size, color, and thickness. Although lesions treated by SP CO2 laser showed significantly better improvement regarding color and thickness of the lesions, downtime and patient satisfaction were significantly better for lesions treated with fractional CO2 laser. Scarring and recurrence were significantly higher in lesions treated by SP CO2 laser. Ablative fractional CO2 laser is an effective and safe therapeutic option for XP with significantly shorter downtime and higher patient satisfaction compared with SP CO2 laser.

Optimal spacing between transmitting and receiving optical fibres in reflectance pulse oximetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hickey, M.; Kyriacou, P. A.

2007-10-01

Splanchnic ischaemia can ultimately lead to cellular hypoxia and necrosis, and may well contribute to the development of multiple organ failures and increased mortality. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to monitor abdominal organ blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). Pulse oximetry has been widely accepted as a reliable method for monitoring oxygen saturation of arterial blood. Animal studies have also shown it to be effective in the monitoring of blood oxygen saturation in the splanchnic region. However, commercially available pulse oximeter probes are not suitable for the continuous assessment of SpO2 in the splanchnic region. Therefore, there is a need for a new sensor technology that will allow the continuous measurement of SpO2 in the splanchnic area pre-operatively, operatively and post-operatively. For this purpose, a new fibre optic sensor and processing system utilising the principle of reflectance pulse oximetry has been developed. The accuracy in the estimation of SpO2 in pulse oximetry depends on the quality and amplitude of the photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal and for this reason an experimental procedure was carried out to examine the effect of the source-detector separation distance on the acquired PPG signals, and to ultimately select an optimal separation for the final design of the fibre-optic probe. PPG signals were obtained from the finger for different separation distances between the emitting and detecting fibres. Good quality PPG signals with large amplitudes and high signal-to-noise ratio were detected in the range of 3mm to 6mm. At separation distances between 1mm and 2mm, PPG signals were erratic with no resemblance to a conventional PPG signal. At separation distances greater than 6mm, the amplitudes of PPG signals were very small and not appropriate for processing. This investigation indicates the suitability of optical fibres as a new pulse oximetry sensor for estimating blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) in the splanchnic region.

Tuning the nonlinear optical absorption of reduced graphene oxide by chemical reduction.

PubMed

Shi, Hongfei; Wang, Can; Sun, Zhipei; Zhou, Yueliang; Jin, Kuijuan; Redfern, Simon A T; Yang, Guozhen

2014-08-11

Reduced graphene oxides with varying degrees of reduction have been produced by hydrazine reduction of graphene oxide. The linear and nonlinear optical properties of both graphene oxide as well as the reduced graphene oxides have been measured by single beam Z-scan measurement in the picosecond region. The results reveal both saturable absorption and two-photon absorption, strongly dependent on the intensity of the pump pulse: saturable absorption occurs at lower pump pulse intensity (~1.5 GW/cm2 saturation intensity) whereas two-photon absorption dominates at higher intensities (≥5.7 GW/cm2). Intriguingly, we find that the two-photon absorption coefficient (from 1.5 cm/GW to 4.5cm/GW) and the saturation intensity (from 1 GW/cm2 to 2 GW/cm2) vary with chemical reduction, which is ascribed to the varying concentrations of sp2 domains and sp2 clusters in the reduced graphene oxides. Our results not only provide an insight into the evolution of the nonlinear optical coefficient in reduced graphene oxide, but also suggest that chemical engineering techniques may usefully be applied to tune the nonlinear optical properties of various nano-materials, including atomically thick graphene sheets.

Substance P immunoreactivity exhibits frequent colocalization with kisspeptin and neurokinin B in the human infundibular region.

PubMed

Hrabovszky, Erik; Borsay, Beáta Á; Rácz, Kálmán; Herczeg, László; Ciofi, Philippe; Bloom, Stephen R; Ghatei, Mohammad A; Dhillo, Waljit S; Liposits, Zsolt

2013-01-01

Neurons synthesizing neurokinin B (NKB) and kisspeptin (KP) in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus represent important upstream regulators of pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurosecretion. In search of neuropeptides co-expressed in analogous neurons of the human infundibular nucleus (Inf), we have carried out immunohistochemical studies of the tachykinin peptide Substance P (SP) in autopsy samples from men (21-78 years) and postmenopausal (53-83 years) women. Significantly higher numbers of SP-immunoreactive (IR) neurons and darker labeling were observed in the Inf of postmenopausal women than in age-matched men. Triple-immunofluorescent studies localized SP immunoreactivity to considerable subsets of KP-IR and NKB-IR axons and perikarya in the infundibular region. In postmenopausal women, 25.1% of NKB-IR and 30.6% of KP-IR perikarya contained SP and 16.5% of all immunolabeled cell bodies were triple-labeled. Triple-, double- and single-labeled SP-IR axons innervated densely the portal capillaries of the infundibular stalk. In quadruple-labeled sections, these axons formed occasional contacts with GnRH-IR axons. Presence of SP in NKB and KP neurons increases the functional complexity of the putative pulse generator network. First, it is possible that SP modulates the effects of KP and NKB in axo-somatic and axo-dendritic afferents to GnRH neurons. Intrinsic SP may also affect the activity and/or neuropeptide release of NKB and KP neurons via autocrine/paracrine actions. In the infundibular stalk, SP may influence the KP and NKB secretory output via additional autocrine/paracrine mechanisms or regulate GnRH neurosecretion directly. Finally, possible co-release of SP with KP and NKB into the portal circulation could underlie further actions on adenohypophysial gonadotrophs.

Effect of lingual gauze swab placement on pulse oximeter readings in anaesthetised dogs and cats.

PubMed

Mair, A; Martinez-Taboada, F; Nitzan, M

2017-01-14

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of lingual gauze swab placement on pulse oximeter readings in anaesthetised dogs and cats. Following anaesthetic induction, the following pulse oximeter probe configurations were performed: no gauze swab (control), placement of a gauze swab between the tongue and the probe, placement of different thicknesses of gauze swab, placement of red cotton fabric, placement of a sheet of white paper and placement of the probe and gauze swab on different locations on the tongue. Oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) and peripheral perfusion index (PI) were recorded. Placement of a gauze swab between the pulse oximeter probe and the tongue in anaesthetised dogs and cats resulted in significantly higher SpO 2 values compared with the control group. In dogs, PI values were significantly higher than the control in all groups except the quarter thickness swab group. In cats, PI was significantly higher in the double thickness swab and white paper groups compared with the control. Cats had significantly higher SpO 2 and lower PI values than dogs. The authors propose that increased contact pressure is responsible for significantly higher SpO 2 and PI readings with the use of a lingual gauze swab resulting from changes in transmural pressure and arterial compliance. British Veterinary Association.

Respiratory rate and pulse oximetry derived information as predictors of hospital admission in young children in Bangladesh: a prospective observational study

PubMed Central

Garde, Ainara; Zhou, Guohai; Raihana, Shahreen; Dunsmuir, Dustin; Karlen, Walter; Dekhordi, Parastoo; Huda, Tanvir; Arifeen, Shams El; Larson, Charles; Kissoon, Niranjan; Dumont, Guy A; Ansermino, J Mark

2016-01-01

Objective Hypoxaemia is a strong predictor of mortality in children. Early detection of deteriorating condition is vital to timely intervention. We hypothesise that measures of pulse oximetry dynamics may identify children requiring hospitalisation. Our aim was to develop a predictive tool using only objective data derived from pulse oximetry and observed respiratory rate to identify children at increased risk of hospital admission. Setting Tertiary-level hospital emergency department in Bangladesh. Participants Children under 5 years (n=3374) presenting at the facility (October 2012–April 2013) without documented chronic diseases were recruited. 1-minute segments of pulse oximetry (photoplethysmogram (PPG), blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR)) and respiratory rate were collected with a mobile app. Primary outcome The need for hospitalisation based on expert physician review and follow-up. Methods Pulse rate variability (PRV) using pulse peak intervals of the PPG signal and features extracted from the SpO2 signal, all derived from pulse oximetry recordings, were studied. A univariate age-adjusted logistic regression was applied to evaluate differences between admitted and non-admitted children. A multivariate logistic regression model was developed using a stepwise selection of predictors and was internally validated using bootstrapping. Results Children admitted to hospital showed significantly (p<0.01) decreased PRV and higher SpO2 variability compared to non-admitted children. The strongest predictors of hospitalisation were reduced PRV-power in the low frequency band (OR associated with a 0.01 unit increase, 0.93; 95% CI 0.89 to 0.98), greater time spent below an SpO2 of 98% and 94% (OR associated with 10 s increase, 1.4; 95% CI 1.3 to 1.4 and 1.5; 95% CI 1.4 to 1.6, respectively), high respiratory rate, high HR, low SpO2, young age and male sex. These variables provided a bootstrap-corrected AUC of the receiver operating characteristic of 0.76. Conclusions Objective measurements, easily obtained using a mobile device in low-resource settings, can predict the need for hospitalisation. External validation will be required before clinical adoption. PMID:27534987

A cortical substrate for the long-term memory of saccadic eye movements calibration.

PubMed

Pélisson, Denis; Habchi, Ouazna; Panouillères, Muriel T N; Hernoux, Charles; Farnè, Alessandro

2018-06-19

How movements are continuously adapted to physiological and environmental changes is a fundamental question in systems neuroscience. While many studies have elucidated the mechanisms which underlie short-term sensorimotor adaptation (∼10-30 min), how these motor memories are maintained over longer-term (>3-5 days) -and thanks to which neural systems-is virtually unknown. Here, we examine in healthy human participants whether the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) is causally involved in the induction and/or the retention of saccadic eye movements' adaptation. Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (spTMS) was applied while subjects performed a ∼15min size-decrease adaptation task of leftward reactive saccades. A TMS pulse was delivered over the TPJ in the right hemisphere (rTPJ) in each trial either 30, 60, 90 or 120 msec (in 4 separate adaptation sessions) after the saccade onset. In two control groups of subjects, the same adaptation procedure was achieved either alone (No-TMS) or combined with spTMS applied over the vertex (SHAM-TMS). While the timing of spTMS over the rTPJ did not significantly affect the speed and immediate after-effect of adaptation, we found that the amount of adaptation retention measured 10 days later was markedly larger (42%) than in both the No-TMS (21%) and the SHAM-TMS (11%) control groups. These results demonstrate for the first time that the cerebral cortex is causally involved in maintaining long-term oculomotor memories. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Comparison of two new generation pulse oximeters during emergency ambulance transportation.

PubMed

Weber, Ulrike; Tomschik, Elvira; Resch, Irene; Adelmann, Krista; Hasun, Matthias; Mora, Bruno; Malzer, Reinhard; Kober, Alexander

2011-02-01

We wanted to test whether there is a difference between the total number and duration of malfunctions and a correlation between the oxygen saturation and pulse rate values of two new generation pulse oximeters (Masimo 'Radical 7' and Nellcor 'N 600') during emergency ambulance transportation. Patients were monitored with two pulse oximeters ('Radical 7' and 'N 600') on different randomly selected fingers of the same hand during transportation. Data of both devices were recorded continuously by a laptop computer. Fifty-two patients with signs of peripheral vasoconstriction (including 22 patients with a blood pressure ≤100/60) were included. There were 0.21 ± 0.72 (0-4) malfunctions per patient lasting for a mean 113.55 ± 272.55 s in the 'Radical 7' and 0.13 ± 0.49 (0-3) malfunctions per patient with a mean duration of 301.0 ± 426.58 s in the 'N 600'. Oxygen saturation and pulse rate values correlated significantly [r² = 0.9608 (SpO₂), r² = 0.9608 (pulse rate)] between the devices and showed a bias of -0.177770 (SpO₂) and 0.310883 (pulse rate) with a standard deviation of 1.68367 (SpO₂) and 4.46532 (pulse rate) in a Bland-Altman test. Although number and duration of malfunctions did not differ significantly between the devices, they showed a very low number of malfunctions even in hypotensive patients with peripheral vasoconstriction. Oxygen saturation correlated significantly in the two devices investigated at 49.409 time points. In addition, pulse rate also correlated significantly.

Development and clinical evaluation of a new sensor design for buccal pulse oximetry in horses.

PubMed

Reiners, J K; Rossdeutscher, W; Hopster, K; Kästner, S B R

2018-03-01

The use of pulse oximetry in horses is limited due to inadequate readings with conventional transmission sensor probes. The objectives of this study were to 1) develop an improved sensor design for horses to be used at an appropriate anatomical site, and 2) evaluate this design in an experimental study. In vivo experiment. A new sensor design for reflectance pulse oximetry at the buccal mucosa was developed. A conventional Nonin 2000SL sensor for transmission pulse oximetry was included into this design. Three different prototypes (N1, N2a, N2b) were constructed and used with the Nonin 2500A Vet pulse oximetry monitor. Thirteen anaesthetised warmblood horses were included into a desaturation protocol (100-70% SaO 2 ). SpO 2 and pulse frequency values were recorded, using SaO 2 calculated from blood gas analysis and invasive pulse frequency measurements as reference methods. Bias and precision were evaluated by calculations of the root mean square deviation (A rms ). The agreement of the methods was tested with Bland-Altman analysis. The quality of the pulse frequency readings determined the quality of the SpO 2 -readings. Good pulse signal strength resulted in a SpO 2 -accuracy comparable to that of the original sensor (Nonin 2000SL: A rms = 3%; N1: A rms = 3.60%; N2b: A rms = 3.46%). Especially at heart rates ≤30 bpm, pulse rate readings that were about twice as high as the reference value occurred. Their exclusion from the dataset resulted in a pulse rate accuracy similar to that of the original sensor. Bland-Altman plots showed limits of agreement typical of pulse oximeters. The pulse frequency accuracy requires further improvement. The usability in clinical cases needs to be tested. The new sensor design has been shown to be suitable for buccal pulse oximetry in horses. © 2017 EVJ Ltd.

Taxonomic circumscription of Adenomera martinezi (Bokermann, 1956) (Anura: Leptodactylidae: Leptodactylinae) with the recognition of a new cryptic taxon through a bioacoustic approach.

PubMed

De Carvalho, Thiago Ribeiro; Giaretta, Ariovaldo Antonio

2013-01-01

In this paper, we provide a taxonomic circumscription of Adenomera martinezi from its type locality (Cachimbo, southwestern State of Pará) since its description (57 years ago) based on a newly collected series of eleven adult topotypes, and through a bioacoustic approach, recognize an undescribed cryptic taxon under this nominal species, which is widely distributed in central and northern Brazil. Adenomera martinezi and Adenomera saci sp. nov. can be diagnosed from all congeners by their distinctive 4-6 symmetrically arranged rows of longitudinal dark-colored spots on dorsum. They differ from each other through advertisement call structure, pulsed in Adenomera martinezi (audibly pulsed to the human ear), and non-pulsed in Adenomera saci sp. nov. (a whistle to the human ear). The recognition of Adenomera saci sp. nov. has conservation implications. Based on our assumed distribution of A. martinezi and A denomera saci sp. nov., the IUCN conservation status of A. martinezi requires a reassessment, inasmuch as we herein reconsider this species, as far as we know, as endemic to Cachimbo, southwestern State of Pará, Brazil. The 2004 extinction risk assessment included both A. martinezi and Adenomera saci sp. nov., and the conservation status category of 'Least Concern' might only be applied to Adenomera saci sp. nov., a widely distributed and abundant species in central and northern Brazil.

Isolation of the opdE gene that encodes for a new hydrolase of Enterobacter sp. capable of degrading organophosphorus pesticides.

PubMed

Chino-Flores, Concepción; Dantán-González, Edgar; Vázquez-Ramos, Alejandra; Tinoco-Valencia, Raunel; Díaz-Méndez, Rafael; Sánchez-Salinas, Enrique; Castrejón-Godínez, Maria Luisa; Ramos-Quintana, Fernando; Ortiz-Hernández, Maria Laura

2012-06-01

Microbial enzymes that can hydrolyze organophosphorus compounds have been isolated, identified and characterized from different microbial species in order to use them in biodegradation of organophosphorus compounds. We isolated a bacterial strain Cons002 from an agricultural soil bacterial consortium, which can hydrolyze methyl-parathion (MP) and other organophosphate pesticides. HPLC analysis showed that strain Cons002 is capable of degrading pesticides MP, parathion and phorate. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and 16S rRNA amplification were performed for strain characterization and identification, respectively, showing that the strain Cons002 is related to the genus Enterobacter sp. which has a single chromosome of 4.6 Mb and has no plasmids. Genomic library was constructed from DNA of Enterobacter sp. Cons002. A gene called opdE (Organophosphate Degradation from Enterobacter) consists of 753 bp and encodes a protein of 25 kDa, which was isolated using activity methods. This gene opdE had no similarity to any genes reported to degrade organophosphates. When kanamycin-resistance cassette was placed in the gene opdE, hydrolase activity was suppressed and Enterobacter sp. Cons002 had no growth with MP as a nutrients source.

Comparison of two new generation pulse oximeters with arterial oxygen saturation in critically ill children.

PubMed

Jose, Bipin; Lodha, Rakesh; Kabra, S K

2014-12-01

To compare the performance of two new generation pulse oximeters, one with enhanced signal extraction technology (SET) and other without enhanced SET in detecting hypoxemia and to correlate it with arterial blood gas analysis. Forty-eight patients, admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a teritiary care teaching hospital in India for critical care and support during the study period, who had an arterial catheter in situ were included. Children with those disease conditions known to interfere with pulse oximetry and blood gas analysis were excluded.184 set of observations were made during the study period. Each set had oxygen saturation (SpO2) measured from both the pulse oximeters and the corresponding arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2). The values were compared for occurrence of true and false alarms during periods of normal BP, hypotension and varying degrees of hypoxia. The mean arterial SaO2 in the study was 94.4 % ± 4.9. The mean SpO2 recorded in conventional and enhanced signal extraction technology (SET) pulse oximeters were 94.9 % ± 4.5 and 97.2 % ± 4.7 respectively. Enhanced signal extraction technology pulse oximeter detected 4/27 (15 %) of true hypoxemic events and 1 event was a false alarm. Conventional pulse oximeter detected 11/27 (41 %) true hypoxemic events but recorded 6 false alarms. Both pulse oximeters were not found to be performing satisfactorily in picking up hypoxemia in the study. There was good correlation with mean SpO2 from pulse oximeters and arterial SaO2. The reliability of pulse oximetry decreases with worsening hypoxemia and hypotension, and the sensitivity for picking up hypoxemia can be as low as 15 %.

Development of a Screening Tool for Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children Using the Phone Oximeter™

PubMed Central

Garde, Ainara; Dehkordi, Parastoo; Karlen, Walter; Wensley, David; Ansermino, J. Mark; Dumont, Guy A.

2014-01-01

Background Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) can lead to daytime sleepiness, growth failure and developmental delay in children. Polysomnography (PSG), the gold standard to diagnose SDB, is a highly resource-intensive test, confined to the sleep laboratory. Aim To combine the blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) characterization and cardiac modulation, quantified by pulse rate variability (PRV), to identify children with SDB using the Phone Oximeter, a device integrating a pulse oximeter with a smartphone. Methods Following ethics approval and informed consent, 160 children referred to British Columbia Children's Hospital for overnight PSG were recruited. A second pulse oximeter sensor applied to the finger adjacent to the one used for standard PSG was attached to the Phone Oximeter to record overnight pulse oximetry (SpO2 and photoplethysmogram (PPG)) alongside the PSG. Results We studied 146 children through the analysis of the SpO2 pattern, and PRV as an estimate of heart rate variability calculated from the PPG. SpO2 variability and SpO2 spectral power at low frequency, was significantly higher in children with SDB due to the modulation provoked by airway obstruction during sleep (p-value ). PRV analysis reflected a significant augmentation of sympathetic activity provoked by intermittent hypoxia in SDB children. A linear classifier was trained with the most discriminating features to identify children with SDB. The classifier was validated with internal and external cross-validation, providing a high negative predictive value (92.6%) and a good balance between sensitivity (88.4%) and specificity (83.6%). Combining SpO2 and PRV analysis improved the classification performance, providing an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 88%, beyond the 82% achieved using SpO2 analysis alone. Conclusions These results demonstrate that the implementation of this algorithm in the Phone Oximeter will provide an improved portable, at-home screening tool, with the capability of monitoring patients over multiple nights. PMID:25401696

Development of a screening tool for sleep disordered breathing in children using the phone Oximeter™.

PubMed

Garde, Ainara; Dehkordi, Parastoo; Karlen, Walter; Wensley, David; Ansermino, J Mark; Dumont, Guy A

2014-01-01

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) can lead to daytime sleepiness, growth failure and developmental delay in children. Polysomnography (PSG), the gold standard to diagnose SDB, is a highly resource-intensive test, confined to the sleep laboratory. To combine the blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) characterization and cardiac modulation, quantified by pulse rate variability (PRV), to identify children with SDB using the Phone Oximeter, a device integrating a pulse oximeter with a smartphone. Following ethics approval and informed consent, 160 children referred to British Columbia Children's Hospital for overnight PSG were recruited. A second pulse oximeter sensor applied to the finger adjacent to the one used for standard PSG was attached to the Phone Oximeter to record overnight pulse oximetry (SpO2 and photoplethysmogram (PPG)) alongside the PSG. We studied 146 children through the analysis of the SpO2 pattern, and PRV as an estimate of heart rate variability calculated from the PPG. SpO2 variability and SpO2 spectral power at low frequency, was significantly higher in children with SDB due to the modulation provoked by airway obstruction during sleep (p-value <0.01). PRV analysis reflected a significant augmentation of sympathetic activity provoked by intermittent hypoxia in SDB children. A linear classifier was trained with the most discriminating features to identify children with SDB. The classifier was validated with internal and external cross-validation, providing a high negative predictive value (92.6%) and a good balance between sensitivity (88.4%) and specificity (83.6%). Combining SpO2 and PRV analysis improved the classification performance, providing an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 88%, beyond the 82% achieved using SpO2 analysis alone. These results demonstrate that the implementation of this algorithm in the Phone Oximeter will provide an improved portable, at-home screening tool, with the capability of monitoring patients over multiple nights.

Lifetimes and reaction pathways of guanine radical cations and neutral guanine radicals in an oligonucleotide in aqueous solutions.

PubMed

Rokhlenko, Yekaterina; Geacintov, Nicholas E; Shafirovich, Vladimir

2012-03-14

The exposure of guanine in the oligonucleotide 5'-d(TCGCT) to one-electron oxidants leads initially to the formation of the guanine radical cation G(•+), its deptotonation product G(-H)(•), and, ultimately, various two- and four-electron oxidation products via pathways that depend on the oxidants and reaction conditions. We utilized single or successive multiple laser pulses (308 nm, 1 Hz rate) to generate the oxidants CO(3)(•-) and SO(4)(•-) (via the photolysis of S(2)O(8)(2-) in aqueous solutions in the presence and absence of bicarbonate, respectively) at concentrations/pulse that were ∼20-fold lower than the concentration of 5'-d(TCGCT). Time-resolved absorption spectroscopy measurements following single-pulse excitation show that the G(•+) radical (pK(a) = 3.9) can be observed only at low pH and is hydrated within 3 ms at pH 2.5, thus forming the two-electron oxidation product 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine (8-oxoG). At neutral pH, and single pulse excitation, the principal reactive intermediate is G(-H)(•), which, at best, reacts only slowly with H(2)O and lives for ∼70 ms in the absence of oxidants/other radicals to form base sequence-dependent intrastrand cross-links via the nucleophilic addition of N3-thymidine to C8-guanine (5'-G*CT* and 5'-T*CG*). Alternatively, G(-H)(•) can be oxidized further by reaction with CO(3)(•-), generating the two-electron oxidation products 8-oxoG (C8 addition) and 5-carboxamido-5-formamido-2-iminohydantoin (2Ih, by C5 addition). The four-electron oxidation products, guanidinohydantoin (Gh) and spiroiminodihydantoin (Sp), appear only after a second (or more) laser pulse. The levels of all products, except 8-oxoG, which remains at a low constant value, increase with the number of laser pulses.

The accuracy of pulse oximetry in emergency department patients with severe sepsis and septic shock: a retrospective cohort study.

PubMed

Wilson, Ben J; Cowan, Hamish J; Lord, Jason A; Zuege, Dan J; Zygun, David A

2010-05-05

Pulse oximetry is routinely used to continuously and noninvasively monitor arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) in critically ill patients. Although pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (SpO2) has been studied in several patient populations, including the critically ill, its accuracy has never been studied in emergency department (ED) patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Sepsis results in characteristic microcirculatory derangements that could theoretically affect pulse oximeter accuracy. The purposes of the present study were twofold: 1) to determine the accuracy of pulse oximetry relative to SaO2 obtained from ABG in ED patients with severe sepsis and septic shock, and 2) to assess the impact of specific physiologic factors on this accuracy. This analysis consisted of a retrospective cohort of 88 consecutive ED patients with severe sepsis who had a simultaneous arterial blood gas and an SpO2 value recorded. Adult ICU patients that were admitted from any Calgary Health Region adult ED with a pre-specified, sepsis-related admission diagnosis between October 1, 2005 and September 30, 2006, were identified. Accuracy (SpO2 - SaO2) was analyzed by the method of Bland and Altman. The effects of hypoxemia, acidosis, hyperlactatemia, anemia, and the use of vasoactive drugs on bias were determined. The cohort consisted of 88 subjects, with a mean age of 57 years (19 - 89). The mean difference (SpO2 - SaO2) was 2.75% and the standard deviation of the differences was 3.1%. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that hypoxemia (SaO2 < 90) significantly affected pulse oximeter accuracy. The mean difference was 4.9% in hypoxemic patients and 1.89% in non-hypoxemic patients (p < 0.004). In 50% (11/22) of cases in which SpO2 was in the 90-93% range the SaO2 was <90%. Though pulse oximeter accuracy was not affected by acidoisis, hyperlactatementa, anemia or vasoactive drugs, these factors worsened precision. Pulse oximetry overestimates ABG-determined SaO2 by a mean of 2.75% in emergency department patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. This overestimation is exacerbated by the presence of hypoxemia. When SaO2 needs to be determined with a high degree of accuracy arterial blood gases are recommended.

Functional characterization of substance P receptors in the rabbit ear artery.

PubMed

Illes, P; von Falkenhausen, S

1986-05-01

Rabbit isolated ear arteries were perfused at a constant flow and stimulated with field pulses (5 Hz, 5 impulses). Different tachykinins and capsaicin depressed stimulation-induced vasoconstriction, substance P (SP) being the most potent inhibitor. The rank order of potency of the tachykinins was, SP approximately equal to physalaemin approximately equal to eledoisin greater than SP-methyl ester; that of SP and its C-terminal fragments, SP approximately equal to SP-(2-11) approximately equal to SP-(4-11) greater than SP-(6-11). SP-(1-9) was inactive. The SP antagonist (Arg5,D-Trp7,9,Nle11)SP-(5-11) 10 mumol/l shifted the concentration-response curve of SP to the right (pA2 = 5.43), whereas it did not reduce the action of capsaicin. Another SP antagonist (D-Pro4,D-Trp7,9,10)SP-(4-11) 10 mumol/l failed to affect the SP depression. Neither antagonist changed vasoconstriction by itself. Pretreatment of the arteries with a mixture of yohimbine, propranolol, atropine, diphenhydramine, burimamide, methysergide and indomethacin, all 1 mumol/l, did not influence the effect of SP or capsaicin. Only the inhibition by SP, but not that by capsaicin was abolished after mechanical destruction of the endothelium. SP, physalaemin and eledoisin, all 3 mumol/l, reduced vasoconstriction by noradrenaline or histamine; capsaicin 30 mumol/l depressed noradrenaline-induced vasoconstriction. In arteries preincubated with 3H-noradrenaline, electrical stimulation (1 Hz, 120 pulses) triggered an increase in the outflow of tritium and evoked vasoconstriction. SP 1 mumol/l did not change either basal or stimulation-evoked tritium outflow, whereas it reduced vasoconstriction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Experimental and clinical evaluation of a noninvasive reflectance pulse oximeter sensor.

PubMed

Takatani, S; Davies, C; Sakakibara, N; Zurick, A; Kraenzler, E; Golding, L R; Noon, G P; Nose, Y; DeBakey, M E

1992-10-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate a new reflectance pulse oximeter sensor. The prototype sensor consists of 8 light-emitting diode (LED) chips (4 at 665 nm and 4 at 820 nm) and a photodiode chip mounted on a single substrate. The 4 LED chips for each wavelength are spaced at 90-degree intervals around the substrate and at an equal radial distance from the photodiode chip. An optical barrier between the photodiode and LED chips prevents a direct coupling effect between them. Near-infrared LEDs (940 nm) in the sensor warm the tissue. The microthermocouple mounted on the sensor surface measures the temperature of the skin-sensor interface and maintains it at a present level by servoregulating the current in the 940-nm LEDs. An animal study and a clinical study were performed. In the animal study, 5 mongrel dogs (weight, 10-20 kg) were anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, and cannulated. In each animal, arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) was measured continuously by a standard transmission oximeter probe placed on the dog's earlobe and a reflectance oximeter sensor placed on the dog's tongue. In the first phase of the experiment, signals from the reflectance sensor were recorded while the dog was immersed in ice water until its body temperature decreased to 30 degrees C. In the second phase, the animal's body temperature was normal, and the oxygen content of the ventilator was varied to alter the SaO2. In the clinical study, 18 critically ill patients were monitored perioperatively with the prototype reflectance sensor. The first phase of the study investigated the relationship between local skin temperature and the accuracy of oximeter readings with the reflectance sensor. Each measurement was taken at a high saturation level as a function of local skin temperature. The second phase of the study compared measurements of oxygen saturation by a reflectance oximeter (SpO2[r]) with those made by a co-oximeter (SaO2[IL]) and a standard transmission oximeter (SpO2[t]). Linear regression analysis was used to determine the degree of correlation between (1) the pulse amplitude and skin temperature; (2) SpO2(r) and SaO2(IL); and (3) SpO2(t) and SaO2(IL). Student's t test was used to determine the significance of each correlation. The mean and standard deviation of the differences were also computed. In the animal study, pulse amplitude levels increased concomitantly with skin temperature (at 665 nm, r = 0.9424; at 820 nm, r = 0.9834; p < 0.001) and SpO2(r) correlated well with SaO2(IL) (r = 0.982; SEE = 2.54%; p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Arterial blood oxygen saturation during blood pressure cuff-induced hypoperfusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kyriacou, P. A.; Shafqat, K.; Pal, S. K.

2007-10-01

Pulse oximetry has been one of the most significant technological advances in clinical monitoring in the last two decades. Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive photometric technique that provides information about the arterial blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate, and has widespread clinical applications. When peripheral perfusion is poor, as in states of hypovolaemia, hypothermia and vasoconstriction, oxygenation readings become unreliable or cease. The problem arises because conventional pulse oximetry sensors must be attached to the most peripheral parts of the body, such as finger, ear or toe, where pulsatile flow is most easily compromised. Pulse oximeters estimate arterial oxygen saturation by shining light at two different wavelengths, red and infrared, through vascular tissue. In this method the ac pulsatile photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal associated with cardiac contraction is assumed to be attributable solely to the arterial blood component. The amplitudes of the red and infrared ac PPG signals are sensitive to changes in arterial oxygen saturation because of differences in the light absorption of oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin at these two wavelengths. From the ratios of these amplitudes, and the corresponding dc photoplethysmographic components, arterial blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) is estimated. Hence, the technique of pulse oximetry relies on the presence of adequate peripheral arterial pulsations, which are detected as photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pressure cuff-induced hypoperfusion on photoplethysmographic signals and arterial blood oxygen saturation using a custom made finger blood oxygen saturation PPG/SpO2 sensor and a commercial finger pulse oximeter. Blood oxygen saturation values from the custom oxygen saturation sensor and a commercial finger oxygen saturation sensor were recorded from 14 healthy volunteers at various induced brachial pressures. Both pulse oximeters showed gradual decrease of saturations during induced hypoperfusion which demonstrate the direct relation between blood volumes (PPG amplitudes), arterial vessel stenosis and blood oxygen saturation. The custom made pulse oximeter was found to be more sensitive to SpO2 changes than the commercial pulse oximeter especially at high occluding pressures.

A comparative evaluation of adaptive noise cancellation algorithms for minimizing motion artifacts in a forehead-mounted wearable pulse oximeter.

PubMed

Comtois, Gary; Mendelson, Yitzhak; Ramuka, Piyush

2007-01-01

Wearable physiological monitoring using a pulse oximeter would enable field medics to monitor multiple injuries simultaneously, thereby prioritizing medical intervention when resources are limited. However, a primary factor limiting the accuracy of pulse oximetry is poor signal-to-noise ratio since photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals, from which arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) measurements are derived, are compromised by movement artifacts. This study was undertaken to quantify SpO2 and HR errors induced by certain motion artifacts utilizing accelerometry-based adaptive noise cancellation (ANC). Since the fingers are generally more vulnerable to motion artifacts, measurements were performed using a custom forehead-mounted wearable pulse oximeter developed for real-time remote physiological monitoring and triage applications. This study revealed that processing motion-corrupted PPG signals by least mean squares (LMS) and recursive least squares (RLS) algorithms can be effective to reduce SpO2 and HR errors during jogging, but the degree of improvement depends on filter order. Although both algorithms produced similar improvements, implementing the adaptive LMS algorithm is advantageous since it requires significantly less operations.

The Accuracy of Noninvasive Peripheral Pulse Oximetry After Palliative Cardiac Surgery in Patients With Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease.

PubMed

Scrimgeour, Gemma E; Griksaitis, Michael J; Pappachan, John V; Baldock, Andrew J

2017-01-01

Children with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) live with oxyhemoglobin saturations that are typically expressed as percentages in the range of 70s and 80s. Peripheral pulse oximetry (measurement of SpO 2 ) performs poorly in this range and yet is widely used to inform clinical decisions in these patients. The reference standard is co-oximetry of arterial samples (SaO 2 ). In this study, 515 paired measurements of SpO 2 and SaO 2 were taken from 19 children who had undergone palliative cardiac surgery. SpO 2 (Masimo SET LNCS Neo pulse oximeter) overestimated oxyhemoglobin saturation in 82% of measurements (mean 4.6% ± 6.6%). There was a strong negative correlation between mean bias and SaO 2 ( r = -.96, P = .002, 95% confidence interval: -0.99 to -0.68). The results raise a concern that critical hypoxemia may go undetected and untreated if pulse oximetry is relied upon as the primary means of assessing oxyhemoglobin saturation in children with CCHD. Strong preference must be given to co-oximetry of arterial samples.

Retrospective analysis of pulse oximeter alarm settings in an intensive care unit patient population.

PubMed

Lansdowne, Krystal; Strauss, David G; Scully, Christopher G

2016-01-01

The cacophony of alerts and alarms in a hospital produced by medical devices results in alarm fatigue. The pulse oximeter is one of the most common sources of alarms. One of the ways to reduce alarm rates is to adjust alarm settings at the bedside. This study is aimed to retrospectively examine individual pulse oximeter alarm settings on alarm rates and inter- and intra- patient variability. Nine hundred sixty-two previously collected intensive care unit (ICU) patient records were obtained from the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care II Database (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA). Inclusion criteria included patient records that contained SpO2 trend data sampled at 1 Hz for at least 1 h and a matching clinical record. SpO2 alarm rates were simulated by applying a range of thresholds (84, 86, 88, and 90 %) and delay times (10 to 60 s) to the SpO2 data. Patient records with at least 12 h of SpO2 data were examined for the variability in alarm rate over time. Decreasing SpO2 thresholds and increasing delay times resulted in decreased alarm rates. A limited number of patient records accounted for most alarms, and this number increased as alarm settings loosened (the top 10 % of patient records were responsible for 57.4 % of all alarms at an SpO2 threshold of 90 % and 15 s delay and 81.6 % at an SpO2 threshold of 84 % and 45 s delay). Alarm rates were not consistent over time for individual patients with periods of high and low alarms for all alarm settings. Pulse oximeter SpO2 alarm rates are variable between patients and over time, and the alarm rate and the extent of inter- and intra-patient variability can be affected by the alarm settings. Personalized alarm settings for a patient's current status may help to reduce alarm fatigue for nurses.

Preparation of hydrogenated amorphous carbon films using a microsecond-pulsed DC capacitive-coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition system operated at high frequency up to 400 kHz

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mamun, Md Abdullah Al; Furuta, Hiroshi; Hatta, Akimitsu

2018-06-01

Hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) films are deposited on silicon (Si) substrates using a high-repetition microsecond-pulsed DC plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system from acetylene (C2H2) at a gas pressure of 15 Pa inside a custom-made vacuum chamber. The plasma discharge characteristics, hydrocarbon species, and the microstructure of the resulting films are examined at various pulse repetition rates from 50 to 400 kHz and a fixed duty cycle of 50%. The optical emission spectra confirmed the increase in electron excitation energy from 1.09 to 1.82 eV and the decrease in the intensity ratio of CH/C2 from 1.04 to 0.75 with increasing pulse frequency, indicating the enhanced electron impact dissociation of C2H2 gas. With increasing pulse frequency, the deposition rate gradually increased, reaching a maximum rate of 60 nm/min at 200 kHz, after which a progressive decrease was noted, whereas the deposition area was almost uniform for all the prepared films. Clear trends of increasing sp3 content (amorphization) and decreasing hydrogen (H) content in the films were observed as the pulse repetition rate increased, while most of the hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms by sp3 hybridization rather than by sp2 hybridization.

Accuracy of pulse oximeter readings from probe placement on newborn wrist and ankle.

PubMed

Phattraprayoon, N; Sardesai, S; Durand, M; Ramanathan, R

2012-04-01

To compare the accuracy of pulse oximetry oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) measured on the wrist compared with the ipsilateral palm, and SpO(2) measured on the ankle compared with the ipsilateral sole. In this prospective observational study, neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit were enrolled. We recorded SpO(2) (Masimo Radical-7 pulse oximeter) detected at the palm and ipsilateral wrist initially, then at 30 s, and at 1 min, and we repeated the same procedure over the sole and ipsilateral ankle. We recorded the time to obtain the SpO(2) readings from all these sites. Regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between paired SpO(2) measurements. The mean difference (bias) and standard deviation of the paired SpO(2) differences (precision) were calculated (Bland-Altman plots). A total of 150 patients (birth weight 2381±1020 g, gestational age 34.3±4.3 weeks, median postnatal age 3.5 days (25th-75th percentile 1-16 days)) were enrolled. There was a good correlation between SpO(2) measured at the palm versus the wrist (r=0.95, P<0.001 (right); r=0.97, P< 0.001 (left)) and between SpO(2) measured at the sole versus the ankle (r=0.92, P<0.001 (right); r=0.91, P<0.001 (left)). There was also a good agreement between paired SpO(2) measurements from these sites. The bias and precision for SpO(2) at the right palm and right wrist was 0.08±0.94% and for the left palm and left wrist 0.22±0.87%. Similarly, the bias and precision for SpO(2) at the right sole and right ankle was -0.03±0.93% and for the left sole and left ankle was -0.01±0.93%. Our results show that the wrist and ankle can be used as alternative sites to measure SpO(2) in newborn infants in place of the routinely used palm or sole.

Non-invasive carboxyhemoglobin monitoring: screening emergency medical services patients for carbon monoxide exposure.

PubMed

Nilson, Douglas; Partridge, Robert; Suner, Selim; Jay, Gregory

2010-01-01

Carbon monoxide (CO) toxicity is a significant health problem. The use of non-invasive pulse CO-oximetry screening in the emergency department has demonstrated that the rapid screening of numerous individuals for CO toxicity is simple and capable of identifying occult cases of CO toxicity. The objective of this study was to extend the use of this handheld device to the prehospital arena, assess carboxyhemoglobin (SpCO) levels in emergency medical services (EMS) patients, and correlate these levels with clinical and demographic data. This was a retrospective, observational, chart review of adult patients transported to hospital emergency departments by urban fire department EMS ambulances during a six-week period. Each ambulance used a non-invasive pulse CO-oximeter (Rad-57, Masimo Inc.) to record patients' COHb concentrations (SpCO) along with the standard EMS assessment data. Spearman's Rank Correlation tests and Student's t-tests were used to analyze the data and calculate relationships between SpCO and other variables (age, gender, respiratory rate, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry). A total of 36.4% of the patients transported during the study had SpCO documented. Of the 1,017 adults included in this group, 11 (1.1%) had an SpCO >15%. There was no correlation between SpCO and heart rate, ventilatory rate, mean arterial pressure, and oxygen saturation. Screening for CO toxicity in the EMS setting is possible, and may aid in the early detection and treatment of CO-poisoned patients.

Accuracy of the Lifebox pulse oximeter during hypoxia in healthy volunteers.

PubMed

Dubowitz, G; Breyer, K; Lipnick, M; Sall, J W; Feiner, J; Ikeda, K; MacLeod, D B; Bickler, P E

2013-12-01

Pulse oximetry is a standard of care during anaesthesia in high-income countries. However, 70% of operating environments in low- and middle-income countries have no pulse oximeter. The 'Lifebox' oximetry project set out to bridge this gap with an inexpensive oximeter meeting CE (European Conformity) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards. To date, there are no performance-specific accuracy data on this instrument. The aim of this study was to establish whether the Lifebox pulse oximeter provides clinically reliable haemoglobin oxygen saturation (Sp O2 ) readings meeting USA Food and Drug Administration 510(k) standards. Using healthy volunteers, inspired oxygen fraction was adjusted to produce arterial haemoglobin oxygen saturation (Sa O2 ) readings between 71% and 100% measured with a multi-wavelength oximeter. Lifebox accuracy was expressed using bias (Sp O2 - Sa O2 ), precision (SD of the bias) and the root mean square error (Arms). Simultaneous readings of Sa O2 and Sp O2 in 57 subjects showed a mean (SD) bias of -0.41% (2.28%) and Arms 2.31%. The Lifebox pulse oximeter meets current USA Food and Drug Administration standards for accuracy, thus representing an inexpensive solution for patient monitoring without compromising standards. © 2013 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.

Diamond-like carbon prepared by pulsed laser deposition with ion bombardment: physical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Písařík, P.; Mikšovský, J.; Remsa, J.; Zemek, J.; Tolde, Z.; Jelínek, M.

2018-01-01

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) and titanium-doped DLC thin films were prepared by unique hybrid system consisting of pulsed laser deposition, ion source (bombardment) and magnetron sputtering. The influence of deposition parameters (ion energies, deposition pressures and magnetron power) on composition and physical properties was studied. Composition and sp 3/ sp 2 ratio were determined by XPS. sp 3/ sp 2 ratio was in the range from 1.4 to 2.2 for undoped DLC and from 3.4 to 4.8 for Ti-DLC. AFM showed that the layers were smooth, but with small amounts of random droplets. The measurements of the contact angle and determination of surface free energy were made for water, diiodomethane and ethylene glycol. Hardness and reduced Young's modulus varied from 20 to 31 GPa and from 182 to 276 GPa, respectively. Film adhesion was determined by scratch test; L C3 reached 23 N for DLC and 27 N for TiDLC. Optimization of sp 3/ sp 2 ratio, hardness and adhesion to biomedical alloys will advance the DLC coatings usability in the field of implantology.

Laser sculpting of atomic sp, sp(2) , and sp(3) hybrid orbitals.

PubMed

Liu, Chunmei; Manz, Jörn; Yang, Yonggang

2015-01-12

Atomic sp, sp(2) , and sp(3) hybrid orbitals were introduced by Linus Pauling to explain the nature of the chemical bond. Quantum dynamics simulations show that they can be sculpted by means of a selective series of coherent laser pulses, starting from the 1s orbital of the hydrogen atom. Laser hybridization generates atoms with state-selective electric dipoles, opening up new possibilities for the study of chemical reaction dynamics and heterogeneous catalysis. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The anti-biofouling behavior of high voltage pulse electric field (HPEF) mediated by carbon fiber composite coating in seawater.

PubMed

Feng, Tiantian; Wu, Jinyi; Chai, Ke; Yang, Pengpeng

2018-04-25

One of the most important research areas in the marine industry is to investigate new and effective anti-biofouling technologies. In this study, high voltage pulse electric field (HPEF) mediated by carbon fiber (CF) composite coating was utilized to prevent the fouling of bacteria, microalgae and barnacle larvae in seawater. The plate count, 2, 3, 5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) reduction assay and neutral red (NR) staining and larval motility detection showed that the inactivation rates were at the highest levels, which reached 99.1%, 99.9%, 99.7%, 98.7% and 85% respectively for Pseudomonas sp., Vibrio sp., iron bacteria, Navicula sp. and the second stage nauplii of Balanus reticulatus, under the HPEF with 19 kV pulse amplitude, 23.15 kHz frequency and 0.5 duty cycle. The field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) of Navicula sp. revealed that the HPEF brought about the cell lysis and the cell organic matter release on the coating, which could be the mechanism of the inactivation by the HPEF. Additionally, the FE-SEM and Raman spectroscopy indicated that the HPEF hardly damaged the coating. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Manual Vital Signs Reliably Predict Need for Life-Saving Interventions in Trauma Patients

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-10-01

and pulse oximetry ( SpO2 ); and Group 3, Group 2 plus fully automated noninvasive blood pressure measurements, heart rate, end-tidal carbon dioxide, and... Infection , and Critical Care Volume 59 • Number 4 821 Report Documentation Page Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of...pulse character were not ini- tially recorded and resulted in elimination of 339 records created from August 2001 until May 2002. Analysis of the SpO2

[Effect of simulated microgravity on peripheral oxygen saturation in rats].

PubMed

Chen, Guangfei; Zhang, Yahui; Yuan, Ming; He, Shilin; Ying, Jun; Li, Chen

2018-02-01

To study the effect of microgravity on peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) in rats, tail-suspended rats were applied to simulate microgravity environment. SpO 2 and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO 2 ) were measured by pulse oximeter and arterial blood gas analyzer (ABGA) respectively on the 14th day, 21st day and 28th day in tail-suspended group and control group. Paired t -test shows that SpO 2 was significantly lower than SaO 2 in tail-suspended group on the 14th day ( P < 0.05), the 21st day ( P < 0.05) and the 28th day ( P < 0.01). The ANOVA results shows that modeling time had significant effect on SpO 2 value but no effect on SaO 2 value in tail-suspended group. These results indicate that pulse oximeter may be not suitable for oxygen saturation test in microgravity environment.

Pre- and Post-ductal oxygen saturation among apparently healthy low birth weight neonates.

PubMed

Odudu, Leo A; Ezenwa, Beatrice N; Esezobor, Christopher I; Ekure, Ekanem N; Egri Okwaji, Mathias T C; Ezeaka, Chinyere V; Njokanma, Fidelis O; Ladele, Jejelola

2017-01-01

Reference values of oxygen saturation (SpO2) to guide care of low birth weight neonates have been obtained mainly from Caucasians. Data from African newborns are lacking. To determine the pre- and post-ductal SpO2values of low birth weight neonates within the first 72 h of life, compare SpO2values of moderate-late preterm and term low birth weight neonates and determine how mode of delivery affected SpO2in the first 24 h of life. An observational descriptive study was carried out on apparently healthy low birth weight newborns weighing 1500 to ≤2499 g. Pre and post ductal SpO2values were recorded at the following hours of life: 10-24 h, >24-48 h and >48-72 h using a NONIN® pulse oximeter. The ranges of pre- and post-ductal SpO2in the study were similar for both preterm and term neonates in the study (89%-100%). The mean (standard deviation [SD]) pre-ductal SpO2was 95.9% (2.3) and the mean (SD) post-ductal SpO2was 95.9% (2.1). There was a significant increase in pre-ductal SpO2from 10 to 24 h through >48-72 h of life (P = 0.027). The mode of delivery did not affect SpO2values within 10-24 h of life. The present study documented daily single pre- and post-ductal SpO2 values for preterm and term low birth weight neonates weighing 1500 g to <2500 g during the first 72 h of life. The overall range and mean pre- and post-ductal SpO2 were similar for both categories of stable low birth weight neonates in the study. There was no significant difference between SpO2ranges for late preterm compared to term low birth weight neonates. The results obtained could serve as guide in assessing SpO2of low birth weight neonates weighing between 1500 and 2499 g in the first 72 h of life.

[Influence of nail polish on pulse oximeter readings of oxygen saturation: a systematic review].

PubMed

Ballesteros-Peña, Sendoa; Fernández-Aedo, Irrintzi; Picón, Artzai; Lorrio-Palomino, Sergio

2015-10-01

Nail polish has traditionally been assumed to absorb light emitted by pulse oximeters and to interfere with the detection and measurement of oxygenated hemoglobin. In a systematic review of the literature we aimed to assess the influence of nail polish on the measurement of oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO2). A search protocol for online databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and IBECS [the Spanish health sciences index]) was established to find clinical trials or observational studies published between 1999 and February 2014. Twelve nonrandomized clinical trials were found. Ten were in healthy volunteers. One of the remaining 2 studies was in critical patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, and the other was in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. One study recreated the low oxygen level of high altitudes, while the others were done in normal atmospheric conditions. Differences between pulse oximeters and type of nail polish were found. Nail polish was associated with a statistically significant decrease in SpO2 for at least 1 color in all but 2 studies. However, the differences were within the standard error (±2.0%) of the pulse oximeters used. The authors of the studies all concluded that although nail polish might change SpO2 readings significantly, the variations are not clinically significant.

Performance Evaluation of New-Generation Pulse Oximeters in the NICU: Observational Study.

PubMed

Nizami, Shermeen; Greenwood, Kim; Barrowman, Nick; Harrold, JoAnn

2015-09-01

This crossover observational study compares the data characteristics and performance of new-generation Nellcor OXIMAX and Masimo SET SmartPod pulse oximeter technologies. The study was conducted independent of either original equipment manufacturer (OEM) across eleven preterm infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The SmartPods were integrated with Dräger Infinity Delta monitors. The Delta monitor measured the heart rate (HR) using an independent electrocardiogram sensor, and the two SmartPods collected arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) and pulse rate (PR). All patient data were non-Gaussian. Nellcor PR showed a higher correlation with the HR as compared to Masimo PR. The statistically significant difference found in their median values (1% for SpO2, 1 bpm for PR) was deemed clinically insignificant. SpO2 alarms generated by both SmartPods were observed and categorized for performance evaluation. Results for sensitivity, positive predictive value, accuracy and false alarm rates were Nellcor (80.3, 50, 44.5, 50%) and Masimo (72.2, 48.2, 40.6, 51.8%) respectively. These metrics were not statistically significantly different between the two pulse oximeters. Despite claims by OEMs, both pulse oximeters exhibited high false alarm rates, with no statistically or clinically significant difference in performance. These findings have a direct impact on alarm fatigue in the NICU. Performance evaluation studies can also impact medical device purchase decisions made by hospital administrators.

Day-night fluctuation of pulse oximetry: an exploratory study in pediatric inpatients.

PubMed

Vargas, Mario H; Heyaime-Lalane, Jorge; Pérez-Rodríguez, Liliana; Zúñiga-Vázquez, Guillermo; Furuya, María Elena Y

2008-01-01

Pulse oximetry is a simple and non-invasive procedure widely used nowadays in the clinical practice. However, it is unclear if SpO2 values are constant throughout the 24 hours of the day or have periodic fluctuations. In the present study we evaluated if progressive day-night variations of SpO, values occur in children. Pulse oximetry (Nonin 2500) was carried out approximately every 2 hours during a 24-hours period in pediatric patients hospitalized due to different diseases but without acute or chronic respiratory diseases. Measurements were analyzed through the cosinor method (sinusoidal curve fitting). A total of 131 patients (23 days to 16 years old) were studied. A sinusoidal fitting of the SpO2 values was accomplished in 84.7% of children. According to these curves, maximal SpO2 values occurred in the late afternoon [4:53 PM (3:49-5:32 PM), median (quartile 1-quartile 3)], while minimal values appeared in the first hours of the day [3:06 AM (2:12-4:08 AM)]. This pattern was the same in sleeping or awake children. More than half of these sinusoidal curves had a period near to 24 hours (between 20 and 28 hours). An additional finding was that maximal and minimal SpO2 values diminished with age (approximately 0.15 and approximately 0.13% SpO2 per year, respectively). In children less than six years old 5th percentile of SpO2 values were 93.8% in the late afternoon and 89.8% in the early hours of the day, while corresponding figures for older children were 91.0% and 88.5%, respectively. Our results suggested that, regardless of the sleep influence, in most children the SpO2 follows a progressive fluctuation during a 24-hours cycle, a pattern which is suggestive of a circadian rhythm. A prospective study in healthy children is warranted.

Accuracy of carboxyhemoglobin detection by pulse CO-oximetry during hypoxemia.

PubMed

Feiner, John R; Rollins, Mark D; Sall, Jeffrey W; Eilers, Helge; Au, Paul; Bickler, Philip E

2013-10-01

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a significant problem in most countries, and a reliable method of quick diagnosis would greatly improve patient care. Until the recent introduction of a multiwavelength "pulse CO-oximeter" (Masimo Rainbow SET(®) Radical-7), obtaining carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels in blood required blood sampling and laboratory analysis. In this study, we sought to determine whether hypoxemia, which can accompany carbon monoxide poisoning, interferes with the accurate detection of COHb. Twelve healthy, nonsmoking, adult volunteers were fitted with 2 standard pulse-oximeter finger probes and 2 Rainbow probes for COHb detection. A radial arterial catheter was placed for blood sampling during 3 interventions: (1) increasing hypoxemia in incremental steps with arterial oxygen saturations (SaO2) of 100% to 80%; (2) normoxia with incremental increases in %COHb to 12%; and (3) elevated COHb combined with hypoxemia with SaO2 of 100% to 80%. Pulse-oximeter (SpCO) readings were compared with simultaneous arterial blood values at the various increments of hypoxemia and carboxyhemoglobinemia (≈25 samples per subject). Pulse CO-oximeter performance was analyzed by calculating the mean bias (SpCO - %COHb), standard deviation of the bias (precision), and the root-mean-square error (A(rms)). The Radical-7 accurately detected hypoxemia with both normal and elevated levels of COHb (bias mean ± SD: 0.44% ± 1.69% at %COHb <4%, and -0.29% ± 1.64% at %COHb ≥4%, P < 0.0001, and A(rms) 1.74% vs 1.67%). COHb was accurately detected during normoxia and moderate hypoxia (bias mean ± SD: -0.98 ± 2.6 at SaO2 ≥95%, and -0.7 ± 4.0 at SaO2 <95%, P = 0.60, and A(rms) 2.8% vs 4.0%), but when SaO2 decreased below approximately 85%, the pulse CO-oximeter always gave low signal quality errors and did not report SpCO values. In healthy volunteers, the Radical-7 pulse CO-oximeter accurately detects hypoxemia with both low and elevated COHb levels, and accurately detects COHb, but only reads SpCO when SaO2 is more than approximately 85%.

Accuracy of Carboxyhemoglobin Detection by Pulse CO-Oximetry During Hypoxemia

PubMed Central

Feiner, John R.; Rollins, Mark D.; Sall, Jeffrey; Eilers, Helge; Au, Paul; Bickler, Philip E.

2015-01-01

Background Carbon monoxide poisoning is a significant problem in most countries, and a reliable method of quick diagnosis would greatly improve patient care. Until the recent introduction of a multi-wavelength “pulse CO-oximeter” (Masimo Rainbow SET® Radical-7), carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels in blood required blood sampling and laboratory analysis. The purpose of this study was to determine if hypoxemia, which can accompany carbon monoxide poisoning, interferes with the accurate detection of COHb. Methods Twelve healthy non-smoking adult volunteers were fitted with 2 standard pulse oximeter finger probes and 2 Rainbow probes for COHb detection. A radial arterial catheter was placed for blood sampling during three interventions: 1) increasing hypoxemia in incremental steps with oxygen saturations (SaO2) of 100-80%; 2) normoxia with incremental increases in %COHb to 12%; and 3) elevated COHb combined with hypoxemia with SaO2 of 100-80%. Pulse oximeter readings (SpCO) were compared with simultaneous arterial blood values at the various increments of hypoxemia and carboxyhemoglobinemia (≈25 samples per subject). Pulse CO-oximeter performance was analyzed by calculating the mean bias (SpCO – %COHb), standard deviation of the bias (precision), and the root mean square error (Arms). Results The Radical 7 accurately detected hypoxemia with both normal and elevated levels of COHb (bias mean ± SD: 0.44 ± 1.69% at %COHb < 4%, and −0.29 ± 1.64% at %COHb ≥ 4%, P < 0.0001, and Arms 1.74% vs. 1.67%). COHb was accurately detected during normoxia and moderate hypoxia (bias mean ± SD: −0.98 ± 2.6 at SaO2 ≥ 95%, and −0.7 ± 4.0 at SaO2 < 95%, P = 0.60, and Arms 2.8% vs. 4.0%), but when SaO2 fell below ~85%, the pulse CO-oximeter always gave low signal quality errors and did not report SpCO values. Conclusions In healthy volunteers, the Radical 7 pulse CO-oximeter accurately detects hypoxemia with both low and elevated COHb levels, and accurately detects carboxyhemoglobin, but only reads SpCO when SaO2 is greater than about 85%. PMID:23477959

Investigation of signal processing algorithms for an embedded microcontroller-based wearable pulse oximeter.

PubMed

Johnston, W S; Mendelson, Y

2006-01-01

Despite steady progress in the miniaturization of pulse oximeters over the years, significant challenges remain since advanced signal processing must be implemented efficiently in real-time by a relatively small size wearable device. The goal of this study was to investigate several potential digital signal processing algorithms for computing arterial oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) and heart rate (HR) in a battery-operated wearable reflectance pulse oximeter that is being developed in our laboratory for use by medics and first responders in the field. We found that a differential measurement approach, combined with a low-pass filter (LPF), yielded the most suitable signal processing technique for estimating SpO(2), while a signal derivative approach produced the most accurate HR measurements.

The distribution of substance P and kisspeptin in the mediobasal hypothalamus of the male rhesus monkey and a comparison of intravenous administration of these peptides to release GnRH as reflected by LH secretion

PubMed Central

Kalil, Bruna; Ramaswamy, Suresh; Plant, Tony M.

2016-01-01

Substance P (SP) was recently reported to be expressed in human KNDy neurons and to enhance KNDy neuron excitability in the mouse hypothalamus. We therefore examined 1) interactions of SP and kisspeptin in the mediobasal hypothalamus of adult male rhesus monkeys using immunofluorescence, and 2) the ability of SP to induce LH release in GnRH primed, agonadal juvenile male monkeys. SP cell bodies were observed only occasionally in the arcuate nucleus (Arc), but more frequently dorsal to the Arc in the region of the pre-mammilary nucleus. Castration resulted in an increase in the number of SP cell bodies in the Arc but not in the other nuclei. SP fibers innervated the Arc where they were found in close apposition with kisspeptin perikarya in the periphery of this nucleus. Beaded SP axons projected to the median eminence where they terminated in the external layer and intermingled with beaded kisspeptin axons. Colocalization of the two peptides, however, was not observed. Although close apposition between SP fibers and kisspeptin neurons suggest a role for SP in modulating GnRH pulse generator activity, iv injections of SP failed to elicit release of GnRH (as reflected by LH) in the juvenile monkey. Although the finding of structural interactions between SP and kisspeptin neurons are consistent with the notion that this tachykinin may be involved in regulating pulsatile GnRH release, the apparent absence of expression of SP in KNDy neurons suggests that this peptide is unlikely to be a fundamental component of the primate GnRH pulse generator. PMID:26580201

Comparison of heart rate and oxygen saturation measurements from Masimo and Nellcor pulse oximeters in newly born term infants.

PubMed

Dawson, J A; Saraswat, A; Simionato, L; Thio, M; Kamlin, C O F; Owen, L S; Schmölzer, G M; Davis, P G

2013-10-01

To compare heart rate (HR) measurements from Masimo and Nellcor pulse oximeters (POs) against HR measured via a three lead electrocardiograph (ECG) (HRECG ). We also compared peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) measurements between Nellcor and Masimo oximeters. Term infants born via elective caesarean section were studied. ECG leads were placed on the infant's chest and abdomen. Masimo and Nellcor PO sensors were randomly allocated to either foot. The monitors were placed on a trolley, and data from each monitor screen captured by a video camera. HR, SpO2 measurements and signal quality were extracted. Bland-Altman analysis was used to determine agreement between HR from the ECG and each oximeter, and between SpO2 from the oximeters. We studied 44 infants of whom 4 were resuscitated. More than 8000 pairs of observations were used for each comparison of HR and SpO2. The mean difference (±2SD) between HRECG and HRN ellcor was -0.8 (±11) beats per minute (bpm); between HRECG and HRM asimo was 0.2 (±9) bpm. The mean (±2SD) difference between SpO2Masimo and SpO2Nellcor was -3 (±15)%. The Nellcor PO measured 20% higher than the Masimo PO at SpO2 <70%. Both oximeters accurately measure HR. There was good agreement between SpO2 measurements when SpO2 ≥70%. At lower SpO2 , agreement was poorer. ©2013 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Accuracy of a third (Dolphin Voyager) versus first generation pulse oximeter (Nellcor N-180) in predicting arterial oxygen saturation and pulse rate in the anesthetized dog.

PubMed

Burns, Patrick M; Driessen, Bernd; Boston, Ray; Gunther, Robert A

2006-09-01

To compare the accuracy of a 3rd (Dolphin Voyager) versus 1st generation pulse oximeter (Nellcor N-180). Prospective laboratory investigation. Eight adult dogs. In anesthetized dogs, arterial oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) was recorded simultaneously with each pulse oximeter. The oxygen fraction in inspired gas (FiO(2)) was successively reduced from 1.00 to 0.09, with re-saturation (FiO(2) 0.40) after each breathe-down step. After each 3-minute FiO(2) plateau, SpO(2) and pulse rate (PR) were compared with the fractional arterial saturation (SaO(2)) and PR determined by co-oximetry and invasive blood pressure monitoring, respectively. Data analysis included Bland-Altman (B-A) plots, Lin's concordance correlation factor (rho(c)), and linear regression models. Over a SaO(2) range of 33-99%, the overall bias (mean SpO(2) - SaO(2)), precision (SD of bias), and accuracy (A(rms)) for the Dolphin Voyager and Nellcor N-180 were 4.3%, 4.4%, and 6.1%, and 3.2%, 3.0%, and 4.3%, respectively. Bias increased at SaO(2) < 90%, more so with the Dolphin Voyager (from 1.6% to 8.6%) than Nellcor N-180 (from 3.2% to 4.5%). The SpO(2) readings correlated significantly with SaO(2) for both the Dolphin Voyager (rho(c) = 0.94) and Nellcor N-180 (rho(c) = 0.97) (p < 0.001). Regarding PR, bias, precision, and accuracy (A(rms)) for the Dolphin Voyager and Nellcor N-180 were -0.5, 4.6, and 4.6 and 1.38, 4.3, and 4.5 beats minute(-1), respectively. Significant correlation existed between pulse oximeter and directly measured PR (Dolphin Voyager: rho(c) = 0.98; Nellcor N-180: rho(c) = 0.99) (p < 0.001). In anesthetized dogs with adequate hemodynamic function, both instruments record SaO(2) relatively accurately over a wide range of normal saturation values. However, there is an increasing overestimation at SaO(2) < 90%, particularly with the Dolphin Voyager, indicating that 3rd generation pulse oximeters may not perform better than older instruments. The 5.4-fold increase in bias with the Dolphin Voyager at SaO(2) < 90% stresses the importance of a 93-94% SpO(2) threshold to ensure an arterial saturation of >or=90%. In contrast, PR monitoring with both devices is very reliable.

Integrable multi-component generalization of a modified short pulse equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsuno, Yoshimasa

2016-11-01

We propose a multi-component generalization of the modified short pulse (SP) equation which was derived recently as a reduction of Feng's two-component SP equation. Above all, we address the two-component system in depth. We obtain the Lax pair, an infinite number of conservation laws and multisoliton solutions for the system, demonstrating its integrability. Subsequently, we show that the two-component system exhibits cusp solitons and breathers for which the detailed analysis is performed. Specifically, we explore the interaction process of two cusp solitons and derive the formula for the phase shift. While cusp solitons are singular solutions, smooth breather solutions are shown to exist, provided that the parameters characterizing the solutions satisfy certain conditions. Last, we discuss the relation between the proposed system and existing two-component SP equations.

Accuracy of non-invasive continuous total hemoglobin measurement by Pulse CO-Oximetry in severe traumatized and surgical bleeding patients.

PubMed

Baulig, Werner; Seifert, Burkhardt; Spahn, Donat R; Theusinger, Oliver M

2017-02-01

The Masimo Radical-7 Pulse CO-Oximeter (Masimo Corp., USA) non-invasively computes hemoglobin concentration (SpHb). SpHb was compared to Co-Oximeter readings (CoOxHb) of arterial samples in surgery patients of the emergency department. Forty-six patients were enrolled. The Masimo R1 25L (revision F and G) adult adhesive sensor was attached to the ring finger of the arterially cannulated hand. Before start, every 30 min during surgery and in the case of severe bleeding SpHb and CoOxHb values were documented. SpHb and post hoc adjusted SpHb (AdSpHb) values were analyzed. Linear regression analysis and Bland-Altman plot for agreement were performed. The detection failure rate of SpHb was 24.5 %. CoOxHb and SpHb showed a strong correlation (r = +0.81), but agreement was moderate [bias (LOA) of -0.6 (-3.0; +1.9)] g/dl. Positive and negative predicted value was 0.49 and 0.69. Exclusion of changes of CoOxHb values ≤1 g/dl resulted in a positive and negative predictive value of 0.66 and 1.00. Post hoc adjustment of the SpHb (AdSpHb) improved linear correlation of CoOxHb and AdSpHb [r = +0.90 (p < 0.001)] but less the agreement [bias (LOA) of CoOxHb and AdSpHb = -0.1 (-2.1/+1.9) g/dl]. SpHb agreed only moderately with CoOxHb values and predicted decreases of CoOxHb only if changes of SpHb ≤ 1.0 g/dl were excluded. The detection failure rate of SpHb was high. At present, additional refinements of the current technology are necessary to further improve performance of non-invasive hemoglobin measurement in the clinical setting.

Effectiveness of enhanced pulse oximetry sonifications for conveying oxygen saturation ranges: a laboratory comparison of five auditory displays.

PubMed

Paterson, E; Sanderson, P M; Paterson, N A B; Loeb, R G

2017-12-01

Anaesthetists monitor auditory information about a patient's vital signs in an environment that can be noisy and while performing other cognitively demanding tasks. It can be difficult to identify oxygen saturation (SpO2) values using existing pulse oximeter auditory displays (sonifications). In a laboratory setting, we compared the ability of non-clinician participants to detect transitions into and out of an SpO2 target range using five different sonifications while they performed a secondary distractor arithmetic task in the presence of background noise. The control sonification was based on the auditory display of current pulse oximeters and comprised a variable pitch with an alarm. The four experimental conditions included an Alarm Only condition, a Variable pitch only condition, and two conditions using sonifications enhanced with additional sound dimensions. Accuracy to detect SpO2 target transitions was the primary outcome. We found that participants using the two sonifications enhanced with the additional sound dimensions of tremolo and brightness were significantly more accurate (83 and 96%, respectively) at detecting transitions to and from a target SpO2 range than participants using a pitch only sonification plus alarms (57%) as implemented in current pulse oximeters. Enhanced sonifications are more informative than conventional sonification. The implication is that they might allow anaesthetists to judge better when desaturation decreases below, or returns to, a target range. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Journal of Anaesthesia. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

Detection of carcinogenic metals in kidney stones using ultraviolet laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

PubMed

Khalil, Ahmed Asaad I; Gondal, Mohammed A; Shemis, Mohamed; Khan, Irfan S

2015-03-10

The UV single-pulsed (SP) laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system was developed to detect the carcinogenic metals in human kidney stones extracted through the surgical operation. A neodymium yttrium aluminium garnet laser operating at 266 nm wavelength and 20 Hz repetition rate along with a spectrometer interfaced with an intensified CCD (ICCD) was applied for spectral analysis of kidney stones. The ICCD camera shutter was synchronized with the laser-trigger pulse and the effect of laser energy and delay time on LIBS signal intensity was investigated. The experimental parameters were optimized to obtain the LIBS plasma in local thermodynamic equilibrium. Laser energy was varied from 25 to 50 mJ in order to enhance the LIBS signal intensity and attain the best signal to noise ratio. The parametric dependence studies were important to improve the limit of detection of trace amounts of toxic elements present inside stones. The carcinogenic metals detected in kidney stones were chromium, cadmium, lead, zinc, phosphate, and vanadium. The results achieved from LIBS system were also compared with the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry analysis and the concentration detected with both techniques was in very good agreement. The plasma parameters (electron temperature and density) for SP-LIBS system were also studied and their dependence on incident laser energy and delay time was investigated as well.

Assessing the Effect of Early Visual Cortex Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Working Memory Consolidation.

PubMed

van Lamsweerde, Amanda E; Johnson, Jeffrey S

2017-07-01

Maintaining visual working memory (VWM) representations recruits a network of brain regions, including the frontal, posterior parietal, and occipital cortices; however, it is unclear to what extent the occipital cortex is engaged in VWM after sensory encoding is completed. Noninvasive brain stimulation data show that stimulation of this region can affect working memory (WM) during the early consolidation time period, but it remains unclear whether it does so by influencing the number of items that are stored or their precision. In this study, we investigated whether single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (spTMS) to the occipital cortex during VWM consolidation affects the quantity or quality of VWM representations. In three experiments, we disrupted VWM consolidation with either a visual mask or spTMS to retinotopic early visual cortex. We found robust masking effects on the quantity of VWM representations up to 200 msec poststimulus offset and smaller, more variable effects on WM quality. Similarly, spTMS decreased the quantity of VWM representations, but only when it was applied immediately following stimulus offset. Like visual masks, spTMS also produced small and variable effects on WM precision. The disruptive effects of both masks and TMS were greatly reduced or entirely absent within 200 msec of stimulus offset. However, there was a reduction in swap rate across all time intervals, which may indicate a sustained role of the early visual cortex in maintaining spatial information.

Domiciliary pulse-oximetry at exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: prospective pilot study

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background The ability to objectively differentiate exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from day-to-day symptom variations would be an important development in clinical practice and research. We assessed the ability of domiciliary pulse oximetry to achieve this. Methods 40 patients with moderate-severe COPD collected daily data on changes in symptoms, heart-rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2) and peak-expiratory flow (PEF) over a total of 2705 days. 31 patients had data suitable for baseline analysis, and 13 patients experienced an exacerbation. Data were expressed as multiples of the standard deviation (SD) observed from each patient when stable. Results In stable COPD, the SD for HR, SpO2 and PEF were approximately 5 min-1, 1% and 10l min-1. There were detectable changes in all three variables just prior to exacerbation onset, greatest 2-3 days following symptom onset. A composite Oximetry Score (mean magnitude of SpO2 fall and HR rise) distinguished exacerbation onset from symptom variation (area under receiver-operating characteristic curve, AUC = 0.832, 95%CI 0.735-0.929, p = 0.003). In the presence of symptoms, a change in Score of ≥1 (average of ≥1SD change in both HR and SpO2) was 71% sensitive and 74% specific for exacerbation onset. Conclusion We have defined normal variation of pulse oximetry variables in a small sample of patients with COPD. A composite HR and SpO2 score distinguished exacerbation onset from symptom variation, potentially facilitating prompt therapy and providing validation of such events in clinical trials. PMID:20961450

[Quantitative analysis of Cu in water by collinear DP-LIBS].

PubMed

Zheng, Mei-Lan; Yao, Ming-Yin; Chen, Tian-Bing; Lin, Yong-Zeng; Li, Wen-Bing; Liu, Mu-Hua

2014-07-01

The purpose of this research is to study the influence of double pulse laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (DP-LIBS) on the sensitivity of Cu in water. The water solution of Cu was tested by collinear DP-LIBS in this article. The results show that spectral intensity of Cu can be enhanced obviously by DP-LIBS, compared with single pulse laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (SP-LIBS). Besides, the experimental results were significantly impacted by delay time between laser pulse and spectrometer acquisition, delay time of double laser pulse and energy of laser pulse and so on. The paper determined the best conditions for DP-LIBS detecting Cu in water. The optimal acquisition delay time was 1 380 ns. The best laser pulse delay time was 25 ns. The most appropriate energy of double laser pulse was 100 mJ. Characteristic analysis of spectra of Cu at 324.7 and 327.4 nm was done for quantitative analysis. The detection limit was 3.5 microg x mL(-1) at 324.7 nm, and the detection limit was 4.84 microg x mL(-1) at 327.4 nm. The relative standard deviation of the two characteristic spectral lines was within 10%. The calibration curve of characteristic spectral line, established by 327.4 nm, was verified with 500 microg x mL(-1) sample. Concentration of the sample was 446 microg x mL(-1) calculated by the calibration curve. This research shows that the detection sensitivity of Cu in water can be improved by DP-LIBS. At the same time, it had high stability.

Reduction of motion artifact in pulse oximetry by smoothed pseudo Wigner-Ville distribution

PubMed Central

Yan, Yong-sheng; Poon, Carmen CY; Zhang, Yuan-ting

2005-01-01

Background The pulse oximeter, a medical device capable of measuring blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), has been shown to be a valuable device for monitoring patients in critical conditions. In order to incorporate the technique into a wearable device which can be used in ambulatory settings, the influence of motion artifacts on the estimated SpO2 must be reduced. This study investigates the use of the smoothed psuedo Wigner-Ville distribution (SPWVD) for the reduction of motion artifacts affecting pulse oximetry. Methods The SPWVD approach is compared with two techniques currently used in this field, i.e. the weighted moving average (WMA) and the fast Fourier transform (FFT) approaches. SpO2 and pulse rate were estimated from a photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal recorded when subject is in a resting position as well as in the act of performing four types of motions: horizontal and vertical movements of the hand, and bending and pressing motions of the finger. For each condition, 24 sets of PPG signals collected from 6 subjects, each of 30 seconds, were studied with reference to the PPG signal recorded simultaneously from the subject's other hand, which was stationary at all times. Results and Discussion The SPWVD approach shows significant improvement (p < 0.05), as compared to traditional approaches, when subjects bend their finger or press their finger against the sensor. In addition, the SPWVD approach also reduces the mean absolute pulse rate error significantly (p < 0.05) from 16.4 bpm and 11.2 bpm for the WMA and FFT approaches, respectively, to 5.62 bpm. Conclusion The results suggested that the SPWVD approach could potentially be used to reduce motion artifact on wearable pulse oximeters. PMID:15737241

Lactobacillus durianis sp. nov., isolated from an acid-fermented condiment (tempoyak) in Malaysia.

PubMed

Leisner, J J; Vancanneyt, M; Lefebvre, K; Vandemeulebroecke, K; Hoste, B; Vilalta, N Euras; Rusul, G; Swings, J

2002-05-01

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the predominant micro-organisms in tempoyak, a Malaysian acid-fermented condiment. In a study on the diversity of LAB in this product, three isolates could not be identified using SDS-PAGE of whole-cell proteins or API 50 CH. The taxonomic position of the three isolates was clarified in the present study. 16S rDNA sequencing classified a representative strain in the genus Lactobacillus, clearly separated from all known species, and most closely related to the Lactobacillus reuteri phylogenetic group. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments and an extensive phenotypic description confirm that the strains represent a single and separate novel species among the obligately heterofermentative lactobacilli. The three isolates are distinguished at the intra-species level by plasmid profiling, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of macro-restriction fragments and biochemical features. The name Lactobacillus durianis sp. nov. is proposed for the novel taxon and the type strain is LMG 19193T (= CCUG 45405T).

Prevention of retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants through changes in clinical practice and SpO₂technology.

PubMed

Castillo, Armando; Deulofeut, Richard; Critz, Ann; Sola, Augusto

2011-02-01

To identify whether pulse oximetry technology is associated with decreased retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and laser treatment. Inborn infants <1250 g who had eye exams were compared at two centres in three periods. In Period 1, SpO₂ target was ≥93% and pulse oximetry technology was the same in both Centres. In Period 2, guidelines for SpO₂ 88-93% were implemented at both centres and Centre B changed to oximeters with signal extraction technology (SET(®)) while Centre A did not, but did so in Period 3. One ophthalmology department performed eye exams using international criteria. In 571 newborns <1250 g, birth weight and gestational age were similar in the different periods and centres. At Centre A, severe ROP and need for laser remained the same in Periods 1 and 2, decreasing in Period 3-6% and 3%, respectively. At Centre B, severe ROP decreased from 12% (Period 1) to 5% (Period 2) and need for laser decreased from 5% to 3%, remaining low in Period 3. In a large group of inborn infants <1250 g, a change in clinical practice in combination with pulse oximetry with Masimo SET, but not without it, led to significant reduction in severe ROP and need for laser therapy. Pulse oximetry selection is important in managing critically ill infants. © 2010 The Author(s)/Acta Paediatrica © 2010 Foundation Acta Paediatrica.

Influence of pulmonary factors on pulse oximeter saturation in preterm infants.

PubMed

Jones, J G; Lockwood, G G; Fung, N; Lasenby, J; Ross-Russell, R I; Quine, D; Stenson, B J

2016-07-01

To describe how the stability of oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2%) varies within and between infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Clinically stable infants with BPD had SpO2 measured at different inspired oxygen concentrations (FIO2 expressed as %). A computer model of gas exchange, that is, ventilation/perfusion ratio (VA/Q) and shunt, plotted the curve of SpO2 versus FIO2 best fitting these data. The slope of this curve is the change in SpO2 per % change in FIO2, hence SpO2 stability, calculated at each SpO2 from 85% to 95%. Data from 16 infants with BPD previously described were analysed. The dominant gas exchange impairment was low VA/Q (median 0.35, IQR, 0.16-0.4, normal 0.86). Median shunt was 1% (IQR, 0-10.5; normal <2%). Slope varied markedly between infants, but above 95% SpO2 was always <1.5. In infants with least severe BPD (VA/Q ≈0.4, shunt ≤2%) median slope at 85% SpO2 was 5.1 (IQR, 3.7-5.5). With more severe BPD (VA/Q ≤0.3) slope was flatter throughout the SpO2 range. The highest FIO2 for 90% SpO2 was in infants with the lowest VA/Q values. In infants with BPD, there was large variation in the slope of the curve relating SpO2% to inspired oxygen fraction in the SpO2 range 85%-95%. Slopes were considerably steeper at lower than higher SpO2, especially in infants with least severe BPD, meaning that higher SpO2 target values are intrinsically much more stable. Steep slopes below 90% SpO2 may explain why some infants appear dependent on remarkably low oxygen flows. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

The Accuracy of Pulse Spectroscopy for Detecting Hypoxemia and Coexisting Methemoglobin or Carboxyhemoglobin.

PubMed

Kulcke, Axel; Feiner, John; Menn, Ingolf; Holmer, Amadeus; Hayoz, Josef; Bickler, Philip

2016-06-01

Pulse spectroscopy is a new noninvasive technology involving hundreds of wavelengths of visible and infrared light, enabling the simultaneous quantitation of multiple types of normal and dysfunctional hemoglobin. We evaluated the accuracy of a first-generation pulse spectroscopy system (V-Spec™ Monitoring System, Senspec, Germany) in measuring oxygen saturation (SpO2) and detecting carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) or methemoglobin (MetHb), alone or simultaneously, with hypoxemia. Nineteen volunteers were fitted with V-Spec probes on the forehead and fingers. A radial arterial catheter was placed for blood sampling during (1) hypoxemia with arterial oxygen saturations (SaO2) of 100% to 58.5%; (2) normoxia with MetHb and COHb increased to approximately 10%; (3) 10% COHb or MetHb combined with hypoxemia with SaO2 of 100% to 80%. Standard measures of pulse-oximetry performance were calculated: bias (pulse spectroscopy measured value - arterial measured value) mean ± SD and root-mean-square error (Arms). The SpO2 bias for SaO2 approximately 60% to 100% was 0.06% ± 1.30% and Arms of 1.30%. COHb bias was 0.45 ± 1.63, with an Arms of 1.69% overall, and did not degrade substantially during moderate hypoxemia. MetHb bias was 0.36 ± 0.80 overall and stayed small with hypoxemia. Arms was 0.88 and was <3% at all levels of SaO2 and MetHb. Hypoxemia was also accurately detected by pulse spectroscopy at elevated levels of COHb. At elevated MetHb levels, a substantial negative bias developed, -10.3 at MetHb >10%. Pulse spectroscopy accurately detects hypoxemia, MetHb, and COHb. The technology also accurately detects these dysfunctional hemoglobins during hypoxemia. Future releases of this device may have an improved SpO2 algorithm that is more robust with methemoglobinemia.

Noninvasive Measurement of Hemoglobin Using Spectrophotometry: Is it Useful for the Critically Ill Child?

PubMed

Akyildiz, Basak

2018-01-01

This study compared the accuracy of noninvasively measuring hemoglobin using spectrophotometry (SpHb) with a pulse CO-oximeter and laboratory hemoglobin (Hb) measurements. A total of 345 critically ill children were included prospectively. Age, sex, and factors influencing the reliabilityof SpHb such as SpO2, heart rate, perfusion index (PI), and vasoactive inotropic score were recorded. SpHb measurements were recorded during the blood draw and compared with the Hb measurement. Thirteen patients (low PI in 9 patients and no available Hb in 4 patients) were excluded and 332 children were eligible for final analysis. The mean Hb was 8.71±1.49 g/dL (range, 5.9 to 12 g/dL) and the mean SpHb level was 9.55±1.53 g/dL (range, 6 to 14.2 g/dL). The SpHb bias was 0.84±0.86,with the limits of agreement ranging from -2.5 to 0.9 g/dL. The difference between Hb and SpHb was >1.5 g/dL for only 47 patients. Of these, 24 patients had laboratory Hb levels <7 g/dL. There was a weak positive correlation between differences and PI (r=0.349; P= 0.032). The pulse CO-oximeter is a promising tool for measuring SpHb and monitoring critically ill children. However, PI may affect these results. Additional studies investigating the reliability of the trend of continuous SpHb values compared with simultaneously measured laboratory Hb values in the same patient are warranted.

A Comparison of Pulse-Oximetry, Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), and Gas Sensors for In-Cockpit Hypoxia Detection

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-08-29

Pulse Oximetry: Arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) at the index finger on the left hand was measured with a finger oximeter (Model 3900 P, Datex...minutes or until their finger O2 saturation levels dropped below 50%. Oxygen saturation was measured via the left index finger with a pulse oximeter ... saturation . Pulse oximeters have two light emitting diodes, using red (600-750 nm) and near infrared (850-1000 nm) light that penetrates the skin

Two new endangered species of Anomaloglossus (Anura: Aromobatidae) from Roraima State, northern Brazil.

PubMed

Fouquet, Antoine; Souza, Sergio Marques; Nunes, Pedro M Sales; Kok, Philippe J R; Curcio, Felipe Franco; De Carvalho, Celso Morato; Grant, Taran; Rodrigues, Miguel Trefaut

2015-03-05

We describe two new species of Anomaloglossus from Roraima State, Brazil, that are likely endemic to single mountains currently isolated among lowland forest and savanna ecosystems. The first species, Anomaloglossus tepequem sp. nov. was collected in 1986 and 1992 along a single stream at >500 m elevation on a tepui-like mountain named Tepequém, but was not detected during recent investigations. It is mainly diagnosed from other Anomaloglossus species by its well developed foot webbing, immaculate cream abdomen colouration and small body size (males: 18.2-20.1 mm, females: 21.7-24.5). The second species, Anomaloglossus apiau sp. nov. was found along several streams between 500 and 1400 m elevation on Serra do Apiaú, and is mainly diagnosed from congeners by its weakly webbed feet, males with swollen third finger and ventrolateral stripe formed by white dots, and its advertisement call; a long trill (up to almost 40 s) consisting of pairs of very short pulses. The discovery of these two apparently microendemic species suggests that additional Anomaloglossus species remain to be described in the Guiana Shield. Both species should be considered critically endangered given their seemingly reduced range size, association with highland habitat, and the anthropogenic pressure they currently face.

Intracortical excitability in patients with relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Conte, A; Lenzi, D; Frasca, V; Gilio, F; Giacomelli, E; Gabriele, M; Bettolo, C Marini; Iacovelli, E; Pantano, P; Pozzilli, C; Inghilleri, M

2009-06-01

We designed this study to investigate possible correlations between variables measuring primary motor cortex excitability detected by single and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and the severity of clinical manifestations in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Thirty patients with MS in remission, 16 with relapsing-remitting (RR), 14 with secondary progressive disease (SP) and 17 healthy subjects participated in the study. In each subject, the central motor conduction time (CMCT) was calculated, and single-pulse and paired-pulse TMS at 3 and 10 ms interstimulus intervals was delivered over the primary motor cortex of the dominant hemisphere to measure the amplitude of motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), motor threshold (MTh), intracortical inhibition (ICI) and facilitation (ICF). Correlations were determined between the patients' TMS findings and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (lesion load) and clinical features (expanded disability status scale, EDSS score). EDSS scores were significantly higher in SPMS than in RRMS patients. The MTh was significantly higher, and the MEP was significantly smaller in SPMS patients than in RRMS patients and control subjects. All patients had longer CMCTs than healthy subjects. In all patients, paired-pulse TMS elicited an inhibited test MEP at the 3-ms ISI and a facilitated test MEP at the 10 ms ISI. Post hoc analysis showed that ICI was significantly lower in SPMS patients than in those with RRMS and healthy subjects. EDSS scores correlated significantly with TMS measures (MEP, ICI, CMCT and MTh), but not with MRI lesion load. It was found that intracortical excitability as measured with TMS differs according to the clinical course of MS; it remains normal in patients with low EDSS scores and is altered in patients with high EDSS scores.

The short pulse equation by a Riemann-Hilbert approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boutet de Monvel, Anne; Shepelsky, Dmitry; Zielinski, Lech

2017-07-01

We develop a Riemann-Hilbert approach to the inverse scattering transform method for the short pulse (SP) equation u_{xt}=u+{1/6}(u^3)_{xx} with zero boundary conditions (as |x|→ ∞). This approach is directly applied to a Lax pair for the SP equation. It allows us to give a parametric representation of the solution to the Cauchy problem. This representation is then used for studying the longtime behavior of the solution as well as for retrieving the soliton solutions. Finally, the analysis of the longtime behavior allows us to formulate, in spectral terms, a sufficient condition for the wave breaking.

Slice profile and B1 corrections in 2D magnetic resonance fingerprinting.

PubMed

Ma, Dan; Coppo, Simone; Chen, Yong; McGivney, Debra F; Jiang, Yun; Pahwa, Shivani; Gulani, Vikas; Griswold, Mark A

2017-11-01

The goal of this study is to characterize and improve the accuracy of 2D magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) scans in the presence of slice profile (SP) and B 1 imperfections, which are two main factors that affect quantitative results in MRF. The SP and B 1 imperfections are characterized and corrected separately. The SP effect is corrected by simulating the radiofrequency pulse in the dictionary, and the B 1 is corrected by acquiring a B 1 map using the Bloch-Siegert method before each scan. The accuracy, precision, and repeatability of the proposed method are evaluated in phantom studies. The effects of both SP and B 1 imperfections are also illustrated and corrected in the in vivo studies. The SP and B 1 corrections improve the accuracy of the T 1 and T 2 values, independent of the shape of the radiofrequency pulse. The T 1 and T 2 values obtained from different excitation patterns become more consistent after corrections, which leads to an improvement of the robustness of the MRF design. This study demonstrates that MRF is sensitive to both SP and B 1 effects, and that corrections can be made to improve the accuracy of MRF with only a 2-s increase in acquisition time. Magn Reson Med 78:1781-1789, 2017. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Controlled generation of a single Trichel pulse and a series of single Trichel pulses in air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizeraczyk, Jerzy; Berendt, Artur; Akishev, Yuri

2018-04-01

In this paper, a simple method for the controlled generation of a single Trichel pulse or a series of single Trichel pulses of a regulated repetition frequency in air is proposed. The concept of triggering a single Trichel pulse or a series of such pulses is based on the precise controlling the voltage inception of the negative corona, which can be accomplished through the use of a ramp voltage pulse or a series of such pulses with properly chosen ramp voltage pulse parameters (rise and fall times, and ramp voltage pulse repetition frequency). The proposal has been tested in experiments using a needle-to-plate electrode arrangement in air, and reproducible Trichel pulses (single or in a series) were obtained by triggering them with an appropriately designed voltage waveform. The proposed method and results obtained have been qualitatively analysed. The analysis provides guidance for designing the voltage ramp pulse in respect of the generation of a single Trichel pulse or a series of single Trichel pulses. The controlled generation of a single Trichel pulse or a series of such pulses would be a helpful research tool for the refined studies of the fundamental processes in a negative corona discharge in a single- (air is an example) and multi-phase gaseous fluids. The controlled generation of a single Trichel pulse or a series of Trichel pulses can also be attractive for those corona treatments which need manipulation of the electric charge and heat portions delivered by the Trichel pulses to the object.

Bioacoustics reveals two new syntopic species of Adenomera Steindachner (Anura: Leptodactylidae: Leptodactylinae) in the Cerrado of central Brazil.

PubMed

De Carvalho, Thiago Ribeiro; Giaretta, Ariovaldo Antonio

2013-11-01

In this paper, we describe two syntopic species of Adenomera from the Chapada dos Veadeiros microregion, northern State of Goiás, central Brazil, recognized based on morphology, color patterns, and bioacoustics. Specimens and calls were obtained in the Municipality of Teresina de Goiás, central Brazil. Adenomera cotuba sp. nov. is diagnosed from the other 16 congeneric species by its 1) small size (adult male SVL 18.6-20.5 mm) and very robust body; 2) dorsum glandular/granular with no distinctive dorsal granular rows or dorsolateral folds; 3) black or very dark dorsal coloration with no distinctive color patterns (e.g., dorsolateral or vertebral stripes); 4) toe tips not developed into flattened disks; 5) presence of antebrachial tubercle; and 6) advertisement call consisting of a well-defined series of pulsed calls (7-32 calls/series) with progressive increment in amplitude in the first third of each call series when it reaches a sustained plateau. Adenomera juikitam sp. nov. is diagnosed from the other 16 congeneric species by its 1) dorsum profusely glandular/granular with no distinctive dorsal granular rows or dorsolateral folds; 2) dorsum with a marble-like and red coloration with no distinctive color patterns (e.g., dorsolateral or vertebral stripes); 3) toe tips not developed into flattened disks; 4) small size (adult male SVL 19.1-19.5 mm) and very robust body; and 5) long (148-202 ms) advertisement call composed of 16-21pulses. Both new taxa occur in syntopy, and our data allow us to differentiate them both in temporal (pulses/call) and spectral (frequency peaks) traits of their advertisement calls. Besides, dorsal coloration is distinctive, Adenomera cotuba sp. nov. has a black or very dark-colored dorsum, whereas Adenomera juikitam sp. nov. has a marble-like and red-colored dorsum, in addition to the presence (A. cotuba sp. nov.) or absence (A. juikitam sp. nov.) of antebrachial tubercle.

Novel phase of carbon, ferromagnetism, and conversion into diamond

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Narayan, Jagdish, E-mail: narayan@ncsu.edu; Bhaumik, Anagh

2015-12-07

We report the discovery of a new phase of carbon (referred to as Q-carbon) and address fundamental issues related to direct conversion of carbon into diamond at ambient temperatures and pressures in air without any need for catalyst and presence of hydrogen. The Q-carbon is formed as result of quenching from super undercooled state by using high-power nanosecond laser pulses. We discuss the equilibrium phase diagram (P vs. T) of carbon and show that by rapid quenching kinetics can shift thermodynamic graphite/diamond/liquid carbon triple point from 5000 K/12 GPa to super undercooled carbon at atmospheric pressure in air. It is shown thatmore » nanosecond laser heating of diamond-like amorphous carbon on sapphire, glass, and polymer substrates can be confined to melt carbon in a super undercooled state. By quenching the carbon from the super undercooled state, we have created a new state of carbon (Q-carbon) from which nanodiamond, microdiamond, microneedles, and single-crystal thin films are formed depending upon the nucleation and growth times allowed for diamond formation. The Q-carbon quenched from liquid is a new state of solid carbon with a higher mass density than amorphous carbon and a mixture of mostly fourfold sp{sup 3} (75%–85%) with the rest being threefold sp{sup 2} bonded carbon (with distinct entropy). It is expected to have new and improved mechanical hardness, electrical conductivity, chemical, and physical properties, including room-temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) and enhanced field emission. Here we present interesting results on RTFM, enhanced electrical conductivity and surface potential of Q-carbon to emphasize its unique properties. The Q-carbon exhibits robust bulk ferromagnetism with estimated Curie temperature of about 500 K and saturation magnetization value of 20 emu g{sup −1}. From the Q-carbon, diamond phase is nucleated and a variety of micro- and nanostructures and large-area single-crystal diamond sheets are grown by allowing growth times as needed. Subsequent laser pulses can be used to grow nanodiamond into microdiamond and nucleate other nanostructures of diamond on the top of existing microdiamond and create novel nanostructured materials. The microstructural details provide insights into the mechanism of formation of nanodiamond, microdiamond, nanoneedles, microneedles, and single-crystal thin films. This process allows carbon-to-diamond conversion and formation of useful nanostructures and microstructures at ambient temperatures in air at atmospheric pressure on practical and heat-sensitive substrates in a controlled way without need for any catalysts and hydrogen to stabilize sp{sup 3} bonding for diamond formation.« less

Novel phase of carbon, ferromagnetism, and conversion into diamond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narayan, Jagdish; Bhaumik, Anagh

2015-12-01

We report the discovery of a new phase of carbon (referred to as Q-carbon) and address fundamental issues related to direct conversion of carbon into diamond at ambient temperatures and pressures in air without any need for catalyst and presence of hydrogen. The Q-carbon is formed as result of quenching from super undercooled state by using high-power nanosecond laser pulses. We discuss the equilibrium phase diagram (P vs. T) of carbon and show that by rapid quenching kinetics can shift thermodynamic graphite/diamond/liquid carbon triple point from 5000 K/12 GPa to super undercooled carbon at atmospheric pressure in air. It is shown that nanosecond laser heating of diamond-like amorphous carbon on sapphire, glass, and polymer substrates can be confined to melt carbon in a super undercooled state. By quenching the carbon from the super undercooled state, we have created a new state of carbon (Q-carbon) from which nanodiamond, microdiamond, microneedles, and single-crystal thin films are formed depending upon the nucleation and growth times allowed for diamond formation. The Q-carbon quenched from liquid is a new state of solid carbon with a higher mass density than amorphous carbon and a mixture of mostly fourfold sp3 (75%-85%) with the rest being threefold sp2 bonded carbon (with distinct entropy). It is expected to have new and improved mechanical hardness, electrical conductivity, chemical, and physical properties, including room-temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) and enhanced field emission. Here we present interesting results on RTFM, enhanced electrical conductivity and surface potential of Q-carbon to emphasize its unique properties. The Q-carbon exhibits robust bulk ferromagnetism with estimated Curie temperature of about 500 K and saturation magnetization value of 20 emu g-1. From the Q-carbon, diamond phase is nucleated and a variety of micro- and nanostructures and large-area single-crystal diamond sheets are grown by allowing growth times as needed. Subsequent laser pulses can be used to grow nanodiamond into microdiamond and nucleate other nanostructures of diamond on the top of existing microdiamond and create novel nanostructured materials. The microstructural details provide insights into the mechanism of formation of nanodiamond, microdiamond, nanoneedles, microneedles, and single-crystal thin films. This process allows carbon-to-diamond conversion and formation of useful nanostructures and microstructures at ambient temperatures in air at atmospheric pressure on practical and heat-sensitive substrates in a controlled way without need for any catalysts and hydrogen to stabilize sp3 bonding for diamond formation.

Efficacy of removal of cariogenic bacteria and carious dentin by ablation using different modes of Er:YAG lasers

PubMed Central

Baraba, A.; Kqiku, L.; Gabrić, D.; Verzak, Ž.; Hanscho, K.; Miletić, I.

2018-01-01

The primary objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate the efficiency of removal of cariogenic bacteria and carious dentin by ablation using two lasers: fluorescence-feedback controlled (FFC) Er:YAG laser and different pulses of Er:YAG laser based on variable square pulse technology (VSPt). The secondary objective was to measure the temperature during laser ablation of carious tissue. Seventy-two extracted human molars were used in this study. Sixty teeth with carious dentin were randomly divided into four experimental groups according to the treatment for caries removal: group 1: 400 µs (FFC group); group 2: super short pulse (SSP group, 50 µs pulse); group 3: medium short pulse (MSP group, 100 µs pulse); group 4: short pulse (SP group, 300 µs pulse) and one positive control group with no treatment. Twelve teeth without carious lesion were used as a negative control group. After caries removal, swabs were taken with cotton pellets and real-time PCR analysis was performed. During caries ablation, a thermal infrared camera was used to measure the temperature changes. In all experimental groups, specimens were free of bacterial contamination after the treatment. In the SSP, MSP and SP groups, temperatures measured during caries ablation were significantly higher compared to temperatures in the FFC group (P<0.001). In this in vitro study, laser treatment for removal of carious dentin and cariogenic bacteria was an efficient treatment modality without causing excessive temperatures that might adversely affect pulp vitality. PMID:29340524

Efficacy of removal of cariogenic bacteria and carious dentin by ablation using different modes of Er:YAG lasers.

PubMed

Baraba, A; Kqiku, L; Gabrić, D; Verzak, Ž; Hanscho, K; Miletić, I

2018-01-11

The primary objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate the efficiency of removal of cariogenic bacteria and carious dentin by ablation using two lasers: fluorescence-feedback controlled (FFC) Er:YAG laser and different pulses of Er:YAG laser based on variable square pulse technology (VSPt). The secondary objective was to measure the temperature during laser ablation of carious tissue. Seventy-two extracted human molars were used in this study. Sixty teeth with carious dentin were randomly divided into four experimental groups according to the treatment for caries removal: group 1: 400 µs (FFC group); group 2: super short pulse (SSP group, 50 µs pulse); group 3: medium short pulse (MSP group, 100 µs pulse); group 4: short pulse (SP group, 300 µs pulse) and one positive control group with no treatment. Twelve teeth without carious lesion were used as a negative control group. After caries removal, swabs were taken with cotton pellets and real-time PCR analysis was performed. During caries ablation, a thermal infrared camera was used to measure the temperature changes. In all experimental groups, specimens were free of bacterial contamination after the treatment. In the SSP, MSP and SP groups, temperatures measured during caries ablation were significantly higher compared to temperatures in the FFC group (P<0.001). In this in vitro study, laser treatment for removal of carious dentin and cariogenic bacteria was an efficient treatment modality without causing excessive temperatures that might adversely affect pulp vitality.

Effects of temporal primary-tone arrangement on DPOAE properties in humans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zelle, Dennis; Krokenberger, Michael; Gummer, Anthony W.; Dalhoff, Ernst

2018-05-01

Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) emerge as a by-product of the nonlinear amplification of sound waves in the cochlea when presenting two tones of frequencies f1 and f2. According to a widely accepted model, DPOAEs comprise two main components, which can be separated in the time domain using short stimulus pulses. The present study utilized two acquisition paradigms with different primary-tone arrangements, denoted as SP-f1 and SP-f2, to investigate the nonlinear-distortion component arising near the f2-tonotopic site on the basilar membrane. In SP-f2, a conventional paradigm, the f1 tone was presented for 25 ms, whereas the f2 tone was switched on 5 ms after f1 onset for frequency-dependent durations between 3 and 11 ms to elicit the DPOAE. SP-f1 interchanged the temporal arrangement and durations of the primary tones. DPOAEs were recorded at eight frequencies (f2 = 1 - 8 kHz; f2/f1 = 1.2) and five primary-tone levels L2 = 30 - 70 dB SPL in 56 normal-hearing ears from 33 subjects. Comparison between the corresponding DPOAE responses revealed significantly larger amplitudes and shorter latencies of the nonlinear-distortion component for SP-f1, i.e. when the f1 short pulse triggers DPOAE generation.

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex bridges bilateral primary somatosensory cortices during cross-modal working memory.

PubMed

Zhao, Di; Ku, Yixuan

2018-05-01

Neural activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been suggested to integrate information from distinct sensory areas. However, how the DLPFC interacts with the bilateral primary somatosensory cortices (SIs) in tactile-visual cross-modal working memory has not yet been established. In the present study, we applied single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (sp-TMS) over the contralateral DLPFC and bilateral SIs of human participants at various time points, while they performed a tactile-visual delayed matching-to-sample task with a 2-second delay. sp-TMS over the contralateral DLPFC or the contralateral SI at either an sensory encoding stage [i.e. 100 ms after the onset of a vibrotactile sample stimulus (200-ms duration)] or an early maintenance stage (i.e. 300 ms after the onset), significantly impaired the accuracy of task performance; sp-TMS over the contralateral DLPFC or the ipsilateral SI at a late maintenance stage (1600 ms and 1900 ms) also significantly disrupted the performance. Furthermore, at 300 ms after the onset of the vibrotactile sample stimulus, there was a significant correlation between the deteriorating effects of sp-TMS over the contralateral SI and the contralateral DLPFC. These results imply that the DLPFC and the bilateral SIs play causal roles at distinctive stages during cross-modal working memory, while the contralateral DLPFC communicates with the contralateral SI in the early delay, and cooperates with the ipsilateral SI in the late delay. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Draft Genome Sequence of Methylobacterium sp. ME121, Isolated from Soil as a Mixed Single Colony with Kaistia sp. 32K

PubMed Central

Fujinami, Shun; Takeda-Yano, Kiyoko; Onodera, Takefumi; Satoh, Katsuya; Shimizu, Tetsu; Wakabayashi, Yuu; Narumi, Issay; Nakamura, Akira

2015-01-01

Methylobacterium sp. ME121 was isolated from soil as a mixed single colony with Kaistia sp. 32K, and its growth was enhanced by coculture. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Methylobacterium sp. ME121, which may contribute to the study of the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. PMID:26337893

The accuracy of noninvasive hemoglobin monitoring using the radical-7 pulse CO-Oximeter in children undergoing neurosurgery.

PubMed

Park, Yong-Hee; Lee, Ji-Hyun; Song, Hyun-Gul; Byon, Hyo-Jin; Kim, Hee-Soo; Kim, Jin-Tae

2012-12-01

The most common method for determining the hemoglobin concentration is to draw blood from a patient. However, the Radical-7 Pulse CO-Oximeter (Masimo Corporation, Irvine, CA) can noninvasively provide continuous hemoglobin concentration (SpHb). In our study we compared noninvasive measurements of SpHb with simultaneous laboratory measurements of total hemoglobin in arterial blood samples taken from children (tHb). Arterial blood samples were analyzed using a laboratory CO-oximeter, and SpHb was simultaneously recorded in pediatric patients undergoing neurosurgery. When patients met the criteria for hypovolemia, 10 mL/kg of colloids or red blood cells were administered over 10 minutes. SpHb and tHb data were collected before and after intravascular volume resuscitation. The relationship between SpHb and tHb was assessed using a 4-quadrant plot, linear regression, mixed-effect model, and modified Bland-Altman analyses. One hundred nineteen paired samples were analyzed. The correlation coefficient between SpHb and tHb was 0.53 (P < 0.001), whereas that of change in SpHb versus change in tHb was 0.75 (P < 0.001). The average difference (bias) between tHb and SpHb was 0.90 g/dL (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48-1.32 g/dL) and 1 standard deviation of the difference (sd) was 1.35 g/dL. The concordance rate (a measure of the number of data points that are in 1 of the 2 quadrants of agreement) determined using a 4-quadrant plot was 93%. The correlation coefficient between SpHb and tHb after intravascular volume resuscitation was 0.58 (P < 0.001), whereas that of changes in SpHb and tHb was 0.87 (P < 0.001). The bias immediately after volume resuscitation was 1.18 g/dL (95% CI, 0.81-1.55 g/dL), and sd was 1.28 g/dL with a concordance rate of 94.4%. The bias was -0.03 g/dL when tHb was ≥11 g/dL, which was significantly lower in comparison with biases when tHb <9 g/dL (1.24 g/dL) and tHb was 9-11 g/dL (1.17 g/dL) (P = 0.004). The Radical-7 Pulse CO-Oximeter can be useful as a trend monitor in children during surgery even immediately after intravascular volume expanders are administered. However, it is advisable to confirm the baseline hemoglobin level and to consider the influence of tHb level on the bias. In addition, one should be cautious with regard to using SpHb alone when making transfusion decisions.

Single sea urchin phagocytes express messages of a single sequence from the diverse Sp185/333 gene family in response to bacterial challenge.

PubMed

Majeske, Audrey J; Oren, Matan; Sacchi, Sandro; Smith, L Courtney

2014-12-01

Immune systems in animals rely on fast and efficient responses to a wide variety of pathogens. The Sp185/333 gene family in the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, consists of an estimated 50 (±10) members per genome that share a basic gene structure but show high sequence diversity, primarily due to the mosaic appearance of short blocks of sequence called elements. The genes show significantly elevated expression in three subpopulations of phagocytes responding to marine bacteria. The encoded Sp185/333 proteins are highly diverse and have central effector functions in the immune system. In this study we report the Sp185/333 gene expression in single sea urchin phagocytes. Sea urchins challenged with heat-killed marine bacteria resulted in a typical increase in coelomocyte concentration within 24 h, which included an increased proportion of phagocytes expressing Sp185/333 proteins. Phagocyte fractions enriched from coelomocytes were used in limiting dilutions to obtain samples of single cells that were evaluated for Sp185/333 gene expression by nested RT-PCR. Amplicon sequences showed identical or nearly identical Sp185/333 amplicon sequences in single phagocytes with matches to six known Sp185/333 element patterns, including both common and rare element patterns. This suggested that single phagocytes show restricted expression from the Sp185/333 gene family and infers a diverse, flexible, and efficient response to pathogens. This type of expression pattern from a family of immune response genes in single cells has not been identified previously in other invertebrates. Copyright © 2014 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.

Effect of tachykinins on the need-free sodium intake of female rats: a continuous intracerebroventricular infusion study.

PubMed

Polidori, C; Ciccocioppo, R; Epstein, A N; de Caro, G; Massi, M

1994-11-01

The present study investigated the effect of 24-h continuous ICV infusion of four different tachykinins on the enhanced need-free sodium intake induced by previous repeated sodium depletions in female rats. Female rats were employed because, in response to sodium depletions, they develop a higher need-free sodium intake than male rats. The following tachykinins were used: eledoisin, substance P (SP), [Sar9,Met(O2)11]SP and [Asp5,6,MePhe8]SP(5-11), also referred to as NH2-senktide, all at the same doses of 300 or 600 ng/h x 24 h. Food pellets, water, and 3% NaCl sodium solution were freely available. Eledoisin and NH2-senktide were more potent than SP in reducing the need-free sodium intake. On the other hand, [Sar9,Met(O2)11]SP had no effect. None of the tachykinins employed completely blocked the intake. Water intake was reduced, but this reduction was apparently a consequence of reduced intake of hypertonic sodium chloride solution, because at the same doses TKs did not inhibit water intake in a single-bottle test. Food intake remained unchanged at either dose used. These findings confirm previous studies in which pulse injection of the same drugs potently inhibited sodium intake. They also demonstrate that tachykinins endowed with high affinity for the NK3 receptor are the most potent in inhibiting sodium intake. Furthermore, these findings indicate that the tachykinins reduce the need-free sodium intake only during the infusion period, indicating that in these conditions they do not evoke either aversion for salt, or toxic consequences in the follow-up period.

High-inspired oxygen concentration further impairs opioid-induced respiratory depression.

PubMed

Niesters, M; Mahajan, R P; Aarts, L; Dahan, A

2013-05-01

Hyperoxaemia depresses the output of peripheral and central chemoreceptors. Patients treated with opioids often receive supplemental oxygen to avert possible decreases in oxygen saturation (Sp(O2)).We examined the effect of a single dose of remifentanil in healthy volunteers inhaling room air vs air enriched with 50% oxygen. Twenty healthy volunteers received i.v. 50 mg remifentanil (infused over 60 s) at anormoxic (N) or hyperoxic (FI(O2) 0.5, H) background on separate occasions. Minute ventilation (Vi), respiratory rate (RR), end-tidal PC(O2), and Sp(O2) were collected on a breath to-breath basis. The occurrence of apnoea was recorded. During normoxia, remifentanil decreased Vi from 7.4 (1.3) [mean (SD)] to 2.2 (1.2) litre min 21 (P,0.01), and during hyperoxia from 7.9 (1.0) to 1.2 (1.2) litre min 21 (P,0.01; H vs N: P,0.001). RR decreased from 13.1 (2.9) to 6.1 (2.8) bpm during N (P,0.01) and from 13.2 (3.0) to 3.6 (4.0) bpm during H (P,0.01; H vs N: P,0.01). During normoxia, Sp(O2) decreased from 98.4 (1.5) to 88.6 (6.7)% (P,0.01), while during hyperoxia, Sp(O2) changed from 99.7 (0.7) to 98.7 (1.0)% (P,0.001). Apnoea developed in two subjects during normoxia and 10 during hyperoxia. Respiratory depression from remifentanil is more pronounced in hyperoxia than normoxia as determined from minute ventilation, end-tidal PC(O2), and RR. During hyperoxia, respiratory depression may be masked when measuring Sp(O2) as pulse oximetry remains in normal values during the first minutes of respiratory depression.

Prediction of pulmonary hypertension in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis☆

PubMed Central

Zisman, David A.; Ross, David J.; Belperio, John A.; Saggar, Rajan; Lynch, Joseph P.; Ardehali, Abbas; Karlamangla, Arun S.

2007-01-01

Summary Background Reliable, noninvasive approaches to the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are needed. We tested the hypothesis that the forced vital capacity to diffusing capacity ratio and room air resting pulse oximetry may be combined to predict mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Methods Sixty-one idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients with available right-heart catheterization were studied. We regressed measured MPAP as a continuous variable on pulse oximetry (SpO2) and percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) to percent-predicted diffusing capacity ratio (% FVC/% DLco) in a multivariable linear regression model. Results Linear regression generated the following equation: MPAP = −11.9+0.272 × SpO2+0.0659 × (100−SpO2)2+3.06 × (% FVC/% DLco); adjusted R2 = 0.55, p<0.0001. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive value of model-predicted pulmonary hypertension were 71% (95% confidence interval (CI): 50–89%), 81% (95% CI: 68–92%), 71% (95% CI: 51–87%) and 81% (95% CI: 68–94%). Conclusions A pulmonary hypertension predictor based on room air resting pulse oximetry and FVC to diffusing capacity ratio has a relatively high negative predictive value. However, this model will require external validation before it can be used in clinical practice. PMID:17604151

Relationship of Hemoglobin to Arterial Oxygen Desaturation during Aeromedical Evacuation

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-04-02

consent was obtained, a portable pulse oximeter (Rad-57, Masimo Corp., Irvine, CA) was attached to the subject via an adhesive, disposable finger sensor...The oximeter noninvasively measured and recorded arterial SpO2, PR, Hgb, and pulse index every 2 seconds. The oximeter’s screen was covered so as...studied. For this study, subjects deemed safe to fly by the validating flight surgeon were monitored with pulse oximetry from the flight line until arrival

The influence of changes in blood flow on the accuracy of pulse oximetry in humans.

PubMed

Vegfors, M; Lindberg, L G; Lennmarken, C

1992-05-01

Oxygen saturation (SpO2) was measured with a pulse oximeter in ten healthy, young men breathing air. A pulse oximeter probe was attached to the second toe and a laser Doppler probe to the first toe of the same foot for measurement of changes in peripheral blood flow. The pulse oximeter and laser Doppler readings were simultaneously compared when the foot was positioned 40 cm (position 1) above heart level, elevated 10 cm (position 2) above heart level and horizontally at heart level (position 3). Using this experimental human model, we achieved various blood flows. The AC and DC optical signals used for determination of oxygen saturation were recorded from the pulse oximeter and analysed. There was a significant increase (P less than 0.05) between position 1 and 3 in blood flow as measured by the laser Doppler flow meter. The corresponding pulse oximeter readings of haemoglobin saturation also increased significantly (P less than 0.05) comparing these two leg positions. Analysing the AC- and DC optical signals, the AC value of infrared light increased considerably, while the AC value of the red light decreased slightly. The DC values of red and infrared light did not change significantly. In summary, when blood flow was decreased, the ratio of red to infrared transmitted light was changed, resulting in a low SpO2 reading.

A new species of Leptolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from the western Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam.

PubMed

Poyarkov, Nikolay A; Rowley, Jodi J L; Gogoleva, Svetlana I; Vassilieva, Anna B; Galoyan, Eduard A; Orlov, Nikolai L

2015-03-12

We describe a new species of megophryid frog from Loc Bac forest in the western part of the Langbian Plateau in the southern Annamite Mountains, Vietnam. Leptolalax pyrrhops sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological attributes: (1) presence of distinct dark brown/black dorsolateral markings, including blackish spots on flanks and dark canthal and/or temporal streaks; (2) rudimentary webbing on toes; (3) tympanum externally distinct; (4) dorsal skin finely shagreened with numerous small tubercles and pustules; (5) medium size for the genus (30.3-33.9 mm in 2 adult males, 30.8-34.3 mm in 7 females); (6) grey-pinkish to dark brownish-violet chest and belly with numerous whitish speckles, also covering the lateral sides of body; (7) ventrolateral glands small, indistinct, do not form a distinct line; (8) pectoral glands comparatively small, comprising 1-3% of adult SVL; (10) iris bicolored, typically bright orange-red in upper two-thirds, fading to silvery green in lower third. The male advertisement call of the new species is also unique among those Leptolalax species for which calls are known, with a single long 'introductory' note, consisting of 5-12 pulses, followed by of 4-5 predominantly single-pulsed notes, and an average dominant frequency of 1.91-2.23 kHz. From the morphologically similar L. applebyi, L. melicus and L. bidoupensis, Leptolalax pyrrhops sp. nov. can be further distinguished by 13.5%, 13.7% and 10.3% sequence divergence at the 16S rRNA mtDNA gene. At present, the new species is known from montane evergreen forest between 800-1100 m elevation. We suggest the species should be considered as Data Deficient following IUCN's Red List categories. To date our finding represents the southernmost known record of the genus Leptolalax from Vietnam.

An analysis of short pulse and dual frequency radar techniques for measuring ocean wave spectra from satellites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jackson, F. C.

1980-01-01

Scanning beam microwave radars were used to measure ocean wave directional spectra from satellites. In principle, surface wave spectral resolution in wave number can be obtained using either short pulse (SP) or dual frequency (DF) techniques; in either case, directional resolution obtains naturally as a consequence of a Bragg-like wave front matching. A four frequency moment characterization of backscatter from the near vertical using physical optics in the high frequency limit was applied to an analysis of the SP and DF measurement techniques. The intrinsic electromagnetic modulation spectrum was to the first order in wave steepness proportional to the large wave directional slope spectrum. Harmonic distortion was small and was a minimum near 10 deg incidence. NonGaussian wave statistics can have an effect comparable to that in the second order of scattering from a normally distributed sea surface. The SP technique is superior to the DF technique in terms of measurement signal to noise ratio and contrast ratio.

Low and High-Power Inductive Pulsed Plasma Thruster Development Testing at NASA-MSFC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Polzin, Kurt A.; Martin, Adam K.; Greve, Christine M.; Riley, Daniel P.

2017-01-01

The inductive pulsed plasma thruster (IPPT) is an electromagnetic plasma accelerator that has been identified in NASA roadmaps as an enabling propulsion technology for some niche low-power missions and for high-power in-space propulsion needs. The IPPT is an electrodeless space propulsion device where a capacitor is charged to an initial voltage and then discharged producing a high current pulse through a coil. The field produced by this pulse ionizes propellant, inductively driving current in a plasma located near the face of the coil. Once the plasma is formed it can be accelerated and expelled at a high exhaust velocity by the electromagnetic Lorentz body force arising from the interaction of the induced plasma current and the magnetic field produced by the current in the coil. Thrusters of this type possess many demonstrated and potential benefits that make them worthy of continued investigation. The electrodeless nature of these thrusters eliminates the lifetime and contamination issues associated with electrode erosion in conventional electric thrusters. Also, a wider variety of propellants are accessible when compatibility with metallic electrodes in no longer an issue. IPPTs have been successfully operated using propellants like ammonia, hydrazine, and CO2, and there is no fundamental reason why they would not operate on other in situ propellants like H2O. It is well-known that pulsed accelerators can maintain constant specific impulse (I(sub sp)) and thrust efficiency (eta(sub t)) over a wide range of input power levels by adjusting the pulse rate to hold the discharge energy per pulse constant. It has also been demonstrated that an inductive pulsed plasma thruster can operate in a regime where eta(sub t) is relatively constant over a wide range of I(sub sp) values (3000-8000 s). Finally, thrusters in this class have operated in single-pulse mode at high energy per pulse, and by increasing the pulse rate they offer the potential to process very high levels of power using a single thruster. There has been significant previous research on IPPTs designed around a planar-coil (flat-plate) geometry. The most notable of these was the Pulsed Inductive Thruster (PIT), with the PIT MkV presently representing the state-of- the-art in pulsed high-power IPPT technological development. In this paper, we focus on two planar-geometry devices that operate at significantly different power levels. Most work performed at NASA-Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has, to date, focused on lower power thruster operation (approx. = 10s to 100s of J/pulse, up to 2-2.5 kW average power throughput) and previously described. The most recent work aimed to assemble a device that could be tested in cyclic mode on a thrust-stand, and which could augment the existing data set for IPPTs. In addition, the thruster was designed to serve as a test-bed for solid state switching circuitry and pulsed gas valves, with the modular design of the device allowing for variation in or upgrades to test configuration. Recently, MSFC obtained on loan from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA) the PIT MkVI, successor to the PIT MkV. The MkV and MkVI are similar in design with much of the hardware from the former, specifically the capacitors and spark-gap switches, being reused in the latter. The coil is similar in geometry but has bent copper rods used in the latest iteration in place of the Litz wire windings found in the MkV. The MkVI master switch for the spark gaps is located in the vacuum chamber contained within a sealed, pressurized vessel fastened to the back of the thruster. This is different from the MkV where many capacitor charging lines and spark gap-triggering delay lines ran to the thruster from a master trigger located outside the vacuum chamber. The MkVI was damaged during testing soon after its fabrication was completed. The thruster arrived at MSFC still-damaged and mostly disassembled into many individual pieces. The device has been repaired, with a few additional design changes implemented after discussions with the late Prof. Lovberg regarding the initial testing results and issues encountered. In the present work, we present results from testing of both the small IPPT and the larger MkVI thruster. The smaller device (Fig. 1) is tested on a thrust stand on multiple gases to demonstrate its capability to operate in a repetition-rate mode and serve as a IPPT technology-development testbed. The larger MkVI (Fig. 2) is operated for the first time in its newly reconstituted state, demonstrating full-power pulsed operation and, for the first time, repetition-rate operation of a high-power IPPT. The additional upgrades required for synchronous operation of all the pulsed systems in single-pulse and repetition-rate mode are described in detail.

Development and Evaluation of New Products for the Far-Forward Care of Combat Casualties with Acute Lung Injury

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-02-01

pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) were determined at each time point. Electrocardiogram (ECG), pulse oximetry ( SpO2 ) (Datex Ohmeda True Tech Plus...cm H2O positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) and a goal for oxygenation of at least 90% by arterial 8 blood hemoglobin O2 saturation ( SpO2 and...or SaO2). The fraction of inspired O2 concentration was 21% and was adjusted as necessary to maintain SpO2 ≥ 90% and partial pressure of O2 in

Comparison of two Q-switched lasers and a short-pulse erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser for treatment of cosmetic tattoos containing titanium and iron in an animal model.

PubMed

Wang, Chia-Chen; Huang, Chuen-Lin; Yang, An-Hang; Chen, Chih-Kang; Lee, Shao-Chen; Leu, Fur-Jiang

2010-11-01

Cosmetic tattoos contain titanium and ferric oxide and darken through reduction after Q-switched laser irradiation. The optimal treatment for removing these pigments remains unknown. To compare the effects of two Q-switched lasers and a short-pulse erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (SP Er:YAG) laser to remove cosmetic tattoos in an animal model. Rats were tattooed using white, flesh-colored, and brown inks (4 bands of each color) on their backs. For each color, one band was left untreated, and one each was treated with a Q-switched neodymium-doped YAG laser, a Q-switched alexandrite laser, and a SP Er:YAG laser every 3 weeks until the pigments were clear. The two Q-switched lasers were equally effective; all three pigments darkened initially and then resolved gradually. Up to 20, 18, and 10 sessions were required to remove white, flesh-colored, and brown tattoos, respectively. Only six sessions were required with the SP Er:YAG laser. Minimal scarring was observed with all lasers. Skin biopsies confirmed pigment granule fragmentation after Q-switched laser treatment and a decrease in the amount of pigment after SP Er:YAG laser treatment. The SP Er:YAG laser was superior to the Q-switched lasers for removing cosmetic tattoos. © 2010 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.

Repetitive short-pulse light mainly inactivates photosystem I in sunflower leaves.

PubMed

Sejima, Takehiro; Takagi, Daisuke; Fukayama, Hiroshi; Makino, Amane; Miyake, Chikahiro

2014-06-01

Under field conditions, the leaves of plants are exposed to fluctuating light, as observed in sunfleck. The duration and frequency of sunfleck, which is caused by the canopy being blown by the wind, are in the ranges from 0.2 to 50 s, and from 0.004 to 1 Hz, respectively. Furthermore, >60% of the sunfleck duration ranges from 0.2 to 0.8 s. In the present research, we analyzed the effects of repetitive illumination by short-pulse (SP) light of sunflower leaves on the photosynthetic electron flow. The duration of SP light was set in the range from 10 to 300 ms. We found that repetitive illumination with SP light did not induce the oxidation of P700 in PSI, and mainly inactivated PSI. Increases in the intensity, duration and frequency of SP light enhanced PSI photoinhibition. PSI photoinhibition required the presence of O2. The inactivation of PSI suppressed the net CO2 assimilation. On the other hand, the increase in the oxidized state of P700 suppressed PSI inactivation. That is, PSI with a reduced reaction center would produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) by SP light, leading to PSI photodamage. This mechanism probably explains the PSI photodamage induced by constant light. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Accuracy of non-invasive measurement of haemoglobin concentration by pulse co-oximetry during steady-state and dynamic conditions in liver surgery.

PubMed

Vos, J J; Kalmar, A F; Struys, M M R F; Porte, R J; Wietasch, J K G; Scheeren, T W L; Hendriks, H G D

2012-10-01

The Masimo Radical 7 (Masimo Corp., Irvine, CA, USA) pulse co-oximeter(®) calculates haemoglobin concentration (SpHb) non-invasively using transcutaneous spectrophotometry. We compared SpHb with invasive satellite-lab haemoglobin monitoring (Hb(satlab)) during major hepatic resections both under steady-state conditions and in a dynamic phase with fluid administration of crystalloid and colloid solutions. Thirty patients undergoing major hepatic resection were included and randomized to receive a fluid bolus of 15 ml kg(-1) colloid (n=15) or crystalloid (n=15) solution over 30 min. SpHb was continuously measured on the index finger, and venous blood samples were analysed in both the steady-state phase (from induction until completion of parenchymal transection) and the dynamic phase (during fluid bolus). Correlation was significant between SpHb and Hb(satlab) (R(2)=0.50, n=543). The modified Bland-Altman analysis for repeated measurements showed a bias (precision) of -0.27 (1.06) and -0.02 (1.07) g dl(-1) for the steady-state and dynamic phases, respectively. SpHb accuracy increased when Hb(satlab) was <10 g dl(-1), with a bias (precision) of 0.41 (0.47) vs -0.26 (1.12) g dl(-1) for values >10 g dl(-1), but accuracy decreased after colloid administration (R(2)=0.25). SpHb correlated moderately with Hb(satlab) with a slight underestimation in both phases in patients undergoing major hepatic resection. Accuracy increased for lower Hb(satlab) values but decreased in the presence of colloid solution. Further improvements are necessary to improve device accuracy under these conditions, so that SpHb might become a sensitive screening device for clinically significant anaemia.

Nocturnal oxygen saturation profiles of healthy term infants

PubMed Central

Terrill, Philip Ian; Dakin, Carolyn; Hughes, Ian; Yuill, Maggie; Parsley, Chloe

2015-01-01

Objective Pulse oximetry is used extensively in hospital and home settings to measure arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2). Interpretation of the trend and range of SpO2 values observed in infants is currently limited by a lack of reference ranges using current devices, and may be augmented by development of cumulative frequency (CF) reference-curves. This study aims to provide reference oxygen saturation values from a prospective longitudinal cohort of healthy infants. Design Prospective longitudinal cohort study. Setting Sleep-laboratory. Patients 34 healthy term infants were enrolled, and studied at 2 weeks, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months of age (N=30, 25, 27, 26, 20, respectively). Interventions Full overnight polysomnography, including 2 s averaging pulse oximetry (Masimo Radical). Main outcome measurements Summary SpO2 statistics (mean, median, 5th and 10th percentiles) and SpO2 CF plots were calculated for each recording. CF reference-curves were then generated for each study age. Analyses were repeated with sleep-state stratifications and inclusion of manual artefact removal. Results Median nocturnal SpO2 values ranged between 98% and 99% over the first 2 years of life and the CF reference-curves shift right by 1% between 2 weeks and 3 months. CF reference-curves did not change with manual artefact removal during sleep and did not vary between rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep. Manual artefact removal did significantly change summary statistics and CF reference-curves during wake. Conclusions SpO2 CF curves provide an intuitive visual tool for evaluating whether an individual's nocturnal SpO2 distribution falls within the range of healthy age-matched infants, thereby complementing summary statistics in the interpretation of extended oximetry recordings in infants. PMID:25063836

The effect of nail polish and acrylic nails on pulse oximetry reading using the Lifebox oximeter in Nigeria.

PubMed

Desalu, I; Diakparomre, O I; Salami, A O; Abiola, A O

2013-12-01

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES - Pulse oximetry is mandatory during anaesthesia, sedation and transfer of critically ill patients. The effect of nail polish and acrylic nails on the accuracy of saturation reading is inconsistent. The Lifebox pulse oximeter is reliable and recommended for low and middle income countries. We investigated its accuracy in the presence of 4 nail colours and acrylic nails SUBJECTS AND METHODS Fifty non-smoking volunteers had their fingers numbered from right to left (little finger of right hand =1 and little finger of left hand =10). Alternate fingers were nails painted with clear, red, brown and black nail polish and the 5th finger had acrylic nail applied. The corresponding finger on the other hand acted as control. The oxygen saturation was determined using the Lifebox pulse oximeter. Results All fingers (100%) with clear nail polish, red nail polish and acrylic nails recorded a saturation value. Each of the mean saturation value for clear nail polish, red nail polish and acrylic nails was not significantly different from the control mean (p= 0.378, 0.427 and 0.921). Only 12% and 64% of nails polished black and brown respectively recorded a saturation value. The mean SpO- for black and brown polish were significantly different from their control mean (p<0.001). CONCLUSION Black and brown polish resulted in a significant decrease in SpO with the Lifebox oximeter. Dark coloured nail polish should be removed prior to SpO2 determination to ensure that accurate readings can be obtained.

Critical congenital heart disease screening with a pulse oximetry in neonates.

PubMed

Hamilçıkan, Şahin; Can, Emrah

2018-02-23

To compare the results of pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) in newborn infants performed at <24 h and >24 h following. Measurements were taken for each group at <24 h and >24 h following birth. Echocardiography was performed if the SpO2 readings remained abnormal results. A total of 4518 newborns were included in this prospective descriptive study. Of these, 2484 (60.3%) were delivered vaginally and 1685 (39.7%) by cesarean section. Median time points of the screening were 25.4 (25.3-25.5) vs. 17.3 (12.2-22.4) hours after birth. In 4109 infants screened 24 h after birth, the mean pre- and postductal oxygen saturations (SpO2) were 96.5±1.99 and 97.7±1.98, while 127 infants screened within 24 h of mean preductal and postductal SpO2 were 91.33±2.64 and 94.0±4.44. No CCHD was detected during the study period. Pulse oximetry screening was false positive for CCHD in 9 of 4109 infants (0.02%); of these, six infants were referred to pediatric cardiology and three cases were diagnosed as other significant, non-cardiac pathology. There were two cases with AVSD (atrioventricular septal defect, three cases with ventricular septal defect (VSD), and one case with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Saturation values are different between <24-h and >24-h neonates in pulse oximetry screening. The screening in this study identified infants with other important pathologies, this forms an added value as an assessment tool for newborn infants.

Effects of U.S. Navy Diver Training on Physiological Parameters, Time of Useful Consciousness and Cognitive Performance During Periods of Normobaric Hypoxia

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-01

from the pulse oximeter were integrated, digitized, and displayed graphically in real time in LabView (National Instruments) and logged at 20 Hz...Peripheral oxygenation monitoring: Fg-SpO2 levels were measured using a pulse oximeter placed on the left index finger (ROBD-2; Series 6202, Environics...Tolland, CT). Heart rate monitoring: HR was measured using a pulse oximeter placed on the left index finger (ROBD-2; Series 6202, Environics

Effects of U.S. Navy Diver Training on Physiological Parameters, Time of Useful Consciousness, and Cognitive Performance During Periods of Normobaric Hypoxia

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-01

from the pulse oximeter were integrated, digitized, and displayed graphically in real time in LabView (National Instruments) and logged at 20 Hz...Peripheral oxygenation monitoring: Fg-SpO2 levels were measured using a pulse oximeter placed on the left index finger (ROBD-2; Series 6202, Environics...Tolland, CT). Heart rate monitoring: HR was measured using a pulse oximeter placed on the left index finger (ROBD-2; Series 6202, Environics

Synthesis of polycyclic molecules by double C(sp2)-H/C(sp3)-H arylations with a single palladium catalyst.

PubMed

Pierre, Cathleen; Baudoin, Olivier

2011-04-01

Polycyclic molecules were obtained in good yields by double C(sp(2))-H/C(sp(3))-H arylations mediated by a single palladium/phosphine catalyst. Both double intermolecular/intramolecular and intramolecular/intramolecular C-C couplings were performed successfully, which indicates that this concept has a broad applicability for the rapid construction of molecular complexity.

Application of Double Spin-Echo Spiral Chemical Shift Imaging to Rapid Metabolic Mapping of Hyperpolarized [1-13C]-Pyruvate

PubMed Central

Josan, Sonal; Yen, Yi-Fen; Hurd, Ralph; Pfefferbaum, Adolf; Spielman, Daniel; Mayer, Dirk

2011-01-01

Undersampled spiral CSI (spCSI) using a free induction decay (FID) acquisition allows sub-second metabolic imaging of hyperpolarized 13C. Phase correction of the FID acquisition can be difficult, especially with contributions from aliased out-of-phase peaks. This work extends the spCSI sequence by incorporating double spin-echo radiofrequency (RF) pulses to eliminate the need for phase correction and obtain high quality spectra in magnitude mode. The sequence also provides an added benefit of attenuating signal from flowing spins, which can otherwise contaminate signal in the organ of interest. The refocusing pulses can potentially lead to a loss of hyperpolarized magnetization in dynamic imaging due to flow of spins through the fringe field of the RF coil, where the refocusing pulses fail to provide complete refocusing. Care must be taken for dynamic imaging to ensure that the spins remain within the B1-homogeneous sensitive volume of the RF coil. PMID:21316280

Trending and accuracy of noninvasive hemoglobin monitoring in pediatric perioperative patients.

PubMed

Patino, Mario; Schultz, Lindsay; Hossain, Monir; Moeller, Jennifer; Mahmoud, Mohamed; Gunter, Joel; Kurth, C Dean

2014-10-01

Rainbow Pulse CO-Oximetry technology (Masimo Corporation, Irvine, CA) provides continuous and noninvasive measurement of arterial hemoglobin concentration (SpHb). We assessed the trending and accuracy of SpHb by this innovative monitoring compared with Hb concentration obtained with conventional laboratory techniques (Hb) in children undergoing surgical procedures with potential for substantial blood loss. Hb concentrations were recorded from Pulse CO-Oximetry and a conventional hematology analyzer. Regression analysis and 4-quadrant plot were used to evaluate the trending for changes in SpHb and Hb measurements (ΔSpHb and ΔHb). Bias, precision, and limits of agreement of SpHb and of in vivo adjusted SpHb (SpHb - first bias to HB) compared with Hb were calculated. One hundred fifty-eight SpHb-Hb data pairs and 105 delta pairs (ΔSpHb and ΔHb) from 46 patients aged 2 months to 17 years with Hb ranging from 16.7 to 7.9 g/dL were collected. To evaluate trending, the delta pairs (ΔSpHb and ΔHb) were plotted, which revealed a positive correlation (ΔSpHb = 0.022 + 0.76ΔHb) with correlation coefficient r = 0.76, 95% CI [confidence interval] = 0.57-0.86. The bias and precision of SpHb to Hb and in vivo adjusted SpHb were 0.4 ± 1.3 g/dL and 0.1 ± 1.2 g/dL, respectively; the limits of agreement were -2.0 to 3.2 g/dL before in vivo adjustment and -2.4 to 2.2 g/dL after in vivo adjustment (P value = 0.04). The mean percent bias (from the reference Hb concentration) decreased from 4.1% ± 11.9% to 0.7% ± 11.3% (P value = 0.01). No drift in bias over time was observed during the study procedure. Of patient demographic and physiological factors tested for correlation with the SpHb, only perfusion index at sensor site showed a weak correlation. The accuracy of SpHb in children with normal Hb and mild anemia is similar to that previously reported in adults and is independent of patient demographic and physiological states except for a weak correlation with perfusion index. The trending of SpHb and Hb in children with normal Hb and mild anemia showed a positive correlation. Further studies are necessary in children with moderate and severe anemia.

Accuracy of pulse oximetry in detection of oxygen saturation in patients admitted to the intensive care unit of heart surgery: comparison of finger, toe, forehead and earlobe probes.

PubMed

Seifi, Sohila; Khatony, Alireza; Moradi, Gholamreza; Abdi, Alireza; Najafi, Farid

2018-01-01

Heart surgery patients are more at risk of poor peripheral perfusion, and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) measurement is regular care for continuous analysis of blood oxygen saturation in these patients. With regard to controversial studies on accuracy of the current pulse oximetry probes and lack of data related to patients undergoing heart surgery, the present study was conducted to determine accuracy of pulse oximetry probes of finger, toe, forehead and earlobe in detection of oxygen saturation in patients admitted to intensive care units for coronary artery bypass surgery. In this clinical trial, 67 patients were recruited based on convenience sampling method among those admitted to intensive care units for coronary artery bypass surgery. The SpO2 value was measured using finger, toe, forehead and earlobe probes and then compared with the standard value of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2). Data were entered into STATA-11 software and analyzed using descriptive, inferential and Bland-Altman statistical analyses. Highest and lowest correlational mean values of SpO2 and SaO2 were related to finger and earlobe probes, respectively. The highest and lowest agreement of SpO2 and SaO2 were related to forehead and earlobe probes. The SpO2 of earlobe probes due to lesser mean difference, more limited confidence level and higher agreement ration with SaO2 resulted by arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis had higher accuracy. Thus, it is suggested to use earlobe probes in patients admitted to the intensive care unit for coronary artery bypass surgery. Registration of this trial protocol has been approved in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials at 2018-03-19 with reference IRCT20100913004736N22. "Retrospectively registered."

Cooperative processing in primary somatosensory cortex and posterior parietal cortex during tactile working memory.

PubMed

Ku, Yixuan; Zhao, Di; Bodner, Mark; Zhou, Yong-Di

2015-08-01

In the present study, causal roles of both the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) and the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) were investigated in a tactile unimodal working memory (WM) task. Individual magnetic resonance imaging-based single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (spTMS) was applied, respectively, to the left SI (ipsilateral to tactile stimuli), right SI (contralateral to tactile stimuli) and right PPC (contralateral to tactile stimuli), while human participants were performing a tactile-tactile unimodal delayed matching-to-sample task. The time points of spTMS were 300, 600 and 900 ms after the onset of the tactile sample stimulus (duration: 200 ms). Compared with ipsilateral SI, application of spTMS over either contralateral SI or contralateral PPC at those time points significantly impaired the accuracy of task performance. Meanwhile, the deterioration in accuracy did not vary with the stimulating time points. Together, these results indicate that the tactile information is processed cooperatively by SI and PPC in the same hemisphere, starting from the early delay of the tactile unimodal WM task. This pattern of processing of tactile information is different from the pattern in tactile-visual cross-modal WM. In a tactile-visual cross-modal WM task, SI and PPC contribute to the processing sequentially, suggesting a process of sensory information transfer during the early delay between modalities. © 2015 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Comparison of chain sampling plans with single and double sampling plans

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stephens, K. S.; Dodge, H. F.

1976-01-01

The efficiency of chain sampling is examined through matching of operating characteristics (OC) curves of chain sampling plans (ChSP) with single and double sampling plans. In particular, the operating characteristics of some ChSP-0, 3 and 1, 3 as well as ChSP-0, 4 and 1, 4 are presented, where the number pairs represent the first and the second cumulative acceptance numbers. The fact that the ChSP procedure uses cumulative results from two or more samples and that the parameters can be varied to produce a wide variety of operating characteristics raises the question whether it may be possible for such plans to provide a given protection with less inspection than with single or double sampling plans. The operating ratio values reported illustrate the possibilities of matching single and double sampling plans with ChSP. It is shown that chain sampling plans provide improved efficiency over single and double sampling plans having substantially the same operating characteristics.

Mixed-mode high-power impulse magnetron sputter deposition of tetrahedral amorphous carbon with pulse-length control of ionization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tucker, M. D.; Marks, N. A.; Ganesan, R.

2016-04-21

High-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) is used to deposit amorphous carbon thin films with sp{sup 3} fractions of 13% to 82%. Increasing the pulse length results in a transition from conventional HiPIMS deposition to a “mixed-mode” in which an arc triggers on the target surface, resulting in a large flux of carbon ions. The films are characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, ellipsometry, nanoindentation, elastic recoil detection analysis, and measurements of stress and contact angle. All properties vary in a consistent manner, showing a high tetrahedral character only for long pulses, demonstrating that mixed-mode deposition is the source ofmore » the high carbon ion flux. Varying the substrate bias reveals an “energy window” effect, where the sp{sup 3} fraction of the films is greatest for a substrate bias around −100 V and decreases for higher or lower bias values. In the absence of bias, the films' properties show little dependence on the pulse length, showing that energetic ions are the origin of the highly tetrahedral character.« less

The effectiveness of Penicillium sp. mixed with silica nanoparticles in controlling Myzus persicae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hersanti, Hidayat, Syarif; Susanto, Agus; Virgiawan, Regi; Joni, I. Made

2018-02-01

Myzus persicae is one of the major potato plant pests, and also a vector of potato viruses. This pest may cause low quality as well as quantity of potato production. Entomopathogenic fungi can be used to control M. persicae. Penicillium sp. and has been reported as pathogenic to many insect pests. However, it was not that effective in controlling M. persicae. To increase its effectiveness, it can be mixed with plant micro nutrients such as silica, which also protects plants from biotic stress. This experiment was aimed to study the effect of applications of the mixture of Penicillium sp.+ nanosilica in various concentrations on the mortality of M. persicae. There were 8 treatments i.e., applications of single Penicillium sp, single nanosilica 1, 3, and 5 %, and the mixture of Penicillium sp.+ nanosilica 1, 3, and 5 %, and a control (without Penicillium sp.and nanosilica). Each cabbage plant grown in the greenhouse was infested with 20 Penicillium sp. instar II-III, and sprayed according to the treatments. Mortality of M. persicae was assessed after five days of application. The results showed that application of the mixture of Penicillium sp.106spora/ml+nanosilica 5%, and single nanosilica 5% increased the mortality of M. persicae. The mortalities were 37.5%, and 32.5% respectively, compared with 12.5% mortality on the treatment of single Penicillium sp.

Determination of pulse energy dependence for skin denaturation from 585nm fibre laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mujica-Ascencio, S.; Velazquez-Gonzalez, J. S.; Mujica-Ascencio, C.; Alvarez-Chavez, J. A.

2014-05-01

In this paper, simulation and mathematical analysis for the determination of pulse energy from a Q-switched Yb3+-doped fibre laser is required in Port Wine Stain (PWS) treatment. The pulse energy depends on average power, gain, volume, repetition rate and pulse duration. In some treatments such as Selective Photothermolysis (SP), the peak power at the end of the optical fibre and pulse duration can be obtained and modified via a cavity design. For that purpose, a 585nm optical fibre laser full design which considers all of the above besides the average losses through the optical devices proposed for the design and the Ytterbium optical fibre overall gain will be presented.

Utility of Pulse Oximetry to Detect Aspiration: An Evidence-Based Systematic Review.

PubMed

Britton, Deanna; Roeske, Amy; Ennis, Stephanie K; Benditt, Joshua O; Quinn, Cassie; Graville, Donna

2018-06-01

Pulse oximetry is a commonly used means to measure peripheral capillary oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO 2 ). Potential use of pulse oximetry to detect aspiration is attractive to clinicians, as it is readily available, quick, and noninvasive. However, research regarding validity has been mixed. This systematic review examining evidence on the use of pulse oximetry to detect a decrease in SpO 2 indicating aspiration during swallowing is undertaken to further inform clinical practice in dysphagia assessment. A multi-engine electronic search was conducted on 8/25/16 and updated on 4/8/17 in accordance with standards published by the Preferred Reporting for Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA). Inclusion criteria included use of pulse oximetry to detect aspiration with simultaneous confirmation of aspiration via a gold standard instrumental study. Keywords included dysphagia or aspiration AND pulse oximetry. Articles meeting criteria were reviewed by two blinded co-investigators. The search yielded 294 articles, from which 19 were judged pertinent and reviewed in full. Ten met the inclusion criteria and all were rated at Level III-2 on the Australian Diagnostic Levels of Evidence. Study findings were mixed with sensitivity ranging from 10 to 87%. Potentially confounding variables were observed in all studies reviewed, and commonly involved defining "desaturation" within a standard measurement error range (~ 2%), mixed populations, mixed viscosities/textures observed during swallowing, and lack of comparison group. The majority of studies failed to demonstrate an association between observed aspiration and oxygen desaturation. Current evidence does not support the use of pulse oximetry to detect aspiration.

Effect of Single vs Bilateral Lung Transplantation on Plasma Surfactant Protein D Levels in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

PubMed Central

Beers, Michael F.; Ahya, Vivek N.; Kawut, Steven M.; Sims, Karen D.; Lederer, David J.; Palmer, Scott M.; Wille, Keith; Lama, Vibha N.; Shah, Pali D.; Orens, Jonathan B.; Bhorade, Sangeeta; Crespo, Maria; Weinacker, Ann; Demissie, Ejigayehu; Bellamy, Scarlett; Christie, Jason D.; Ware, Lorraine B.

2011-01-01

Background: Serum levels of surfactant protein D (SP-D) have been suggested as reflecting epithelial damage in acute lung injury, COPD, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, little is known about SP-D levels in the setting of lung transplantation. Methods: We examined plasma SP-D levels in 104 subjects from a prospective, multicenter cohort study of lung allograft recipients. Plasma SP-D was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay prior to transplant and daily for 3 days after transplant. Results: Subjects undergoing transplant for IPF had higher baseline SP-D levels (median, 325 ng/mL) compared with subjects with cystic fibrosis, COPD, and pulmonary hypertension (median, 100, 80, and 82 ng/mL, respectively; P = .0001). Among subjects with IPF undergoing bilateral transplant, SP-D levels declined rapidly postoperatively. In contrast, SP-D levels in subjects undergoing single lung transplant for IPF remained significantly higher than those of bilateral allograft recipients. Among subjects undergoing single lung transplant for IPF, the development of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) was associated with a subsequent rise in SP-D levels, whereas SP-D levels in IPF subjects undergoing bilateral transplant declined, even in the presence of grade 3 PGD. Importantly, single lung allograft recipients without PGD had higher postoperative SP-D levels than bilateral allograft recipients with PGD. Conclusions: Subjects undergoing lung transplant for IPF have significantly higher baseline plasma SP-D levels compared with those with other diagnoses. Plasma SP-D is likely a biomarker of the air-blood barrier integrity in the native IPF lung, but may be less useful as a biomarker of PGD after transplant. PMID:21349925

Quantitative determination of copper in a glass matrix using double pulse laser induced breakdown and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques.

PubMed

Khalil, Ahmed A I; Morsy, Mohamed A

2016-07-01

A series of lithium-lead-borate glasses of a variable copper oxide loading were quantitatively analyzed in this work using two distinct spectroscopic techniques, namely double pulse laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (DP-LIBS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). DP-LIBS results measured upon a combined nanosecond lasers irradiation running at 266nm and 1064nm pulses of a collinear configuration directed to the surface of borate glass samples with a known composition. This arrangement was employed to predict the electron's temperature (Te) and density (Ne) of the excited plasma from the recorded spectra. The intensity of elements' responses using this scheme is higher than that of single-pulse laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (SP-LIBS) setup under the same experimental conditions. On the other hand, the EPR data shows typical Cu (II) EPR-signals in the borate glass system that is networked at a distorted tetragonal Borate-arrangement. The signal intensity of the Cu (II) peak at g⊥=2.0596 has been used to quantify the Cu-content accurately in the glass matrix. Both techniques produced linear calibration curves of Cu-metals in glasses with excellent linear regression coefficient (R(2)) values. This study establishes a good correlation between DP-LIBS analysis of glass and the results obtained using EPR spectroscopy. The proposed protocols prove the great advantage of DP-LIBS system for the detection of a trace copper on the surface of glasses. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and Characterization of Quenched and Crystalline Phases: Q-Carbon, Q-BN, Diamond and Phase-Pure c-BN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhaumik, Anagh; Narayan, Jagdish

2018-04-01

We report the synthesis and characterization of quenched (Q-carbon and Q-BN) and crystalline (diamond and c-BN) phases using a non-equilibrium technique. These phases are formed as a result of the melting and subsequent quenching of amorphous carbon and nanocrystalline h-BN in a super undercooled state by using high-power nanosecond laser pulses. Pulsed laser annealing also leads to the formation of nanoneedles, microneedles and single-crystal thin films of diamond and c-BN. This formation is dependent on the nucleation and growth times, which are controlled by laser energy density and thermal conductivities of substrate and as-deposited thin film. The diamond nuclei present in the Q-carbon structure ( 80% sp 3) can also be grown to larger sizes using the equilibrium hot filament chemical vapor deposition process. The texture of diamond and c-BN crystals is <111> under epitaxial growth and <110> under rapid unseeded crystallization. Our nanosecond laser processing opens up a roadmap to the fabrication of novel phases on heat-sensitive substrates.

A pilot study of treatment of striae distensae with variable square pulse Erbium: YAG laser resurfacing.

PubMed

Wanitphakdeedecha, Rungsima; Meeprathom, Walailak; Manuskiatti, Woraphong

2017-12-01

Striae distensae (SD) are a frequent skin condition for which treatment remains a challenge. Various laser treatments have been employed to remove the epidermis and cause dermal wound and heating with subsequent dermal collagen remodeling. To determine the efficacy and safety of a variable square pulse Erbium: YAG (VSP Er:YAG) laser for the treatment of striae in skin phototypes III-IV. Twenty-one women with SD were treated monthly for 2 months with VSP Er:YAG laser resurfacing using a 7-mm spot size. One side of their striae was randomly treated with one pass of 400 mJ in short pulse (SP) mode with 50% overlapping and one pass of 2.2 J/cm 2 in smooth (SM) mode with nonoverlapping. The other side of their striae was treated with two passes of 400 mJ in SP mode with 50% overlapping. Objective and subjective assessments were obtained at baseline and 1-, 3-, and 6-month after treatment. In both SP&SM and SP only group, volume of SD measured by Visioscan VC98 reduced significantly at 6-month follow-up visit (P=.017 and P=.034, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in skin roughness (SER), skin smoothness (SESM), and surface measured by Visioscan VC98. Transient postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is the common side effect found in patients with darker skin tone even in nonsun exposure areas and can last as long as 6 months. VSP Er:YAG laser resurfacing is a promising treatment option for SD. Lower fluence should be used in patients with darker skin phototype to avoid the risk of PIH. In addition, pre- and post-treatment with topical preparations for PIH prevention may be needed. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

USE OF PULSE-AMPLITUDE-MODULATED FLUORESCENCE TO ASSESS THE PHYSIOLOGICAL STATUS OF CLADOPHORA SP. ALONG A WATER QUALITY GRADIENT(1).

PubMed

Hiriart-Baer, Véronique P; Arciszewski, Tim J; Malkin, Sairah Y; Guildford, Stephanie J; Hecky, Robert E

2008-12-01

This study investigated the application of pulse-amplitude-modulated (PAM) fluorometry as a rapid assessment of benthic macroalgal physiological status. Maximum quantum efficiency (Fv /Fm ), dark-light induction curves, and rapid fluorescence light-response curves (RLC) were measured on the filamentous macroalgal Cladophora sp. from Lake Ontario on 5 d at 16 sites spanning a gradient of light and nutrient supply. For Cladophora sp. growing in situ, light limitation was assessed by comparing average daily irradiance with the light utilization efficiency parameter (α) derived from RLCs. In this study, there was a nonlinear relationship between Fv /Fm and the degree of P limitation in macroalgae. However, only light-saturated Cladophora sp. showed a significant positive linear relationship between Fv /Fm and P nutrient status. The absence of this relationship among light-limited algae indicates that their photosynthetic rate would be stimulated by increased water clarity, and not by increased P supply. PAM fluorescence measures were successfully able to identify light-saturated macroalgae and, among these, assess the degree to which they were nutrient limited. These results enable us to test hypotheses arising from numeric models predicting the impact of changes in light penetration and nutrient supply on benthic primary production. © 2008 Phycological Society of America.

Comparative study of dual-pulsed 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and single-pulsed 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser by using zebrafish model and prospective split-face analysis of facial melasma.

PubMed

Jang, Hee Won; Chun, Seung Hyun; Park, Hae Chul; Ryu, Hwa Jung; Kim, Il-Hwan

2017-04-01

Recently dual-pulsed low-fluence 1064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG (QSNY) laser has been developed for reducing complication during melasma treatment. Comparison of the efficacy and safety between dual-pulsed mode and single-pulsed mode for the treatment of melasma. In preclinical study, adult zebrafish were irradiated with dual-pulsed and single-pulsed mode. Changes of melanophore and cell death were assessed. In split-face clinical study, dual-pulsed and single-pulsed mode were irradiated on the left and right side of the face, respectively. L* value, clinical digital photos, modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) scores, and side effects were measured. As compared to single-pulsed mode and dual-pulsed mode with longer intervals, zebrafish melanophore was cleared quickly at dual-pulsed mode with 80-μsec interval and 0.3 J/cm 2 fluence. Dual-pulsed mode showed the least regeneration of melanophore at 4 weeks after irradiation and no cell death was observed with 80-μsec interval. Both pulse modes improved melasma significantly but modified MASI score and L* value were not significantly different between each other. Lesser pain and shorter duration of post-laser erythema were observed with dual-pulsed mode. Dual-pulsed mode was as effective as single-pulsed mode for the treatment of melasma and revealed less side effects.

Validation of noninvasive hemoglobin measurement by pulse co-oximeter in newborn infants.

PubMed

Nicholas, C; George, R; Sardesai, S; Durand, M; Ramanathan, R; Cayabyab, R

2015-08-01

To describe the accuracy of noninvasive hemoglobin (Hb) obtained with pulse co-oximeter (SpHb) compared with total Hb (tHb) from laboratory co-oximeter in neonates. Neonates with birth weight (BW) <3000 g admitted to LAC+USC Medical Center neonatal intensive care unit were included. SpHb was recorded using Masimo Radical-7 and compared with tHb. A total of three data sets were obtained for each patient. Regression analysis and Bland-Altman analysis were performed. Sixty-one patients (mean±s.d., BW 1177±610 g and gestational age 28.7±3.9 weeks) were enrolled. The mean tHb value was 13.9±2.0 g dl(-1) and the mean SpHb was 14.0±2.0 g dl(-1). There was a moderately positive correlation between SpHb and tHb (r=0.66, P<0.001) with a bias and precision of -0.09±1.67 g dl(-1). Data from a subgroup of infants with gestational age ⩽32 weeks (52/61 patients) were analyzed, and the correlation coefficient was moderately positive (r=0.69, P<0.001) with a bias and precision of -0.23±1.60 g dl(-1). Our results suggest that noninvasive SpHb may be considered as an adjunct to invasive tHb measurements in newborn infants <3000 g especially in preterm infants ⩽32 weeks of gestation.

Multiple acquisitions via sequential transfer of orphan spin polarization (MAeSTOSO): How far can we push residual spin polarization in solid-state NMR?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gopinath, T.; Veglia, Gianluigi

2016-06-01

Conventional multidimensional magic angle spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR (ssNMR) experiments detect the signal arising from the decay of a single coherence transfer pathway (FID), resulting in one spectrum per acquisition time. Recently, we introduced two new strategies, namely DUMAS (DUal acquisition Magic Angle Spinning) and MEIOSIS (Multiple ExperIments via Orphan SpIn operatorS), that enable the simultaneous acquisitions of multidimensional ssNMR experiments using multiple coherence transfer pathways. Here, we combined the main elements of DUMAS and MEIOSIS to harness both orphan spin operators and residual polarization and increase the number of simultaneous acquisitions. We show that it is possible to acquire up to eight two-dimensional experiments using four acquisition periods per each scan. This new suite of pulse sequences, called MAeSTOSO for Multiple Acquisitions via Sequential Transfer of Orphan Spin pOlarization, relies on residual polarization of both 13C and 15N pathways and combines low- and high-sensitivity experiments into a single pulse sequence using one receiver and commercial ssNMR probes. The acquisition of multiple experiments does not affect the sensitivity of the main experiment; rather it recovers the lost coherences that are discarded, resulting in a significant gain in experimental time. Both merits and limitations of this approach are discussed.

Single-pulse coherent diffraction imaging using soft x-ray laser.

PubMed

Kang, Hyon Chol; Kim, Hyung Taek; Kim, Sang Soo; Kim, Chan; Yu, Tae Jun; Lee, Seong Ku; Kim, Chul Min; Kim, I Jong; Sung, Jae Hee; Janulewicz, Karol A; Lee, Jongmin; Noh, Do Young

2012-05-15

We report a coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) using a single 8 ps soft x-ray laser pulse at a wavelength of 13.9 nm. The soft x-ray pulse was generated by a laboratory-scale intense pumping laser providing coherent x-ray pulses up to the level of 10(11) photons/pulse. A spatial resolution below 194 nm was achieved with a single pulse, and it was shown that a resolution below 55 nm is feasible with improved detector capability. The single-pulse CDI might provide a way to investigate dynamics of nanoscale molecules or particles.

Accuracy of the Masimo SET® LNCS neo peripheral pulse oximeter in cyanotic congenital heart disease.

PubMed

Griksaitis, Michael J; Scrimgeour, Gemma E; Pappachan, John V; Baldock, Andrew J

2016-08-01

Introduction Non-invasive peripheral pulse oximeters are routinely used to measure oxyhaemoglobin saturation (SpO2) in cyanotic congenital heart disease. These probes are calibrated in healthy adult volunteers between arterial saturations of ~75 and 100%, using the gold standard of co-oximetry on arterial blood samples. There are little data to attest their accuracy in cyanotic congenital heart disease. Aims We aimed to assess the accuracy of a commonly used probe in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease. Children with cyanotic congenital heart disease admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit with an arterial line in situ were included to our study. Prospective simultaneous recordings of SpO2, measured by the Masimo SET® LNCS Neo peripheral probe, and co-oximeter saturations (SaO2) measured by arterial blood gas analysis were recorded. A total of 527 paired measurements of SpO2 and SaO2 (using an ABL800 FLEX analyser) in 25 children were obtained. The mean bias of the pulse oximeter for all SaO2 readings was +4.7±13.8%. The wide standard deviation indicates poor precision. This mean bias increased to +7.0±13.7% at SaO2 recordings <75%. The accuracy root mean square of the recordings was 3.30% across all saturation levels, and this increased to 4.98% at SaO2 <75%. The performance of the Masimo SET® LNCS Neo pulse oximeter is poor when arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturations are below 75%. It tends to overestimate saturations in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease. This may have serious implications for clinical decisions.

Agreement of SpO2, SaO2 and ScO2 in anesthetized cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

PubMed

Young, Simon S; Skeans, Susan M; Lamca, James E; Chapman, Richard W

2002-07-01

To assess the agreement between three measurements of arterial oxygen saturation (SpO 2 , SaO 2 and ScO 2 ) in anesthetized cynomolgus monkeys. Prospective study. Eleven mature, male cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fasicularis). Monkeys were anesthetized with intramuscular ketamine followed by intravenous propofol. The trachea of each was intubated and the lungs ventilated. Arterial oxygen saturation was measured with a Nonin 8500 V pulse oximeter, using a lingual clip on the cheek. Arterial blood samples were taken from an indwelling catheter. Inspired oxygen concentration was varied from 12 to 20%, and 88 paired arterial blood samples and saturation measurements were taken. Arterial oxygen saturation in the blood samples was measured using a cooximeter. The saturation was also calculated from the arterial oxygen tension using the Adair equation. The results were compared using Bland and Altman's method. The pulse oximeter readings were 2.7% higher than that of the cooximeter, with a limit of agreement of -3.9 to 9.3%. The pulse oximeter readings were 1.8% higher than the calculated saturation, with a limit of agreement of -6.5% to 10.1%. The cooximeter readings were 0.9% lower than the calculated saturation, with a limit of agreement of -5.6% to 3.8%. The agreement between SpO 2 and other measurements of arterial oxygen saturation in this study is typical for this technique. The bias and limits of agreement are consistent with reports in other species. The Nonin 8500 V is a useful pulse oximeter for clinical use in primates. Copyright © 2002 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Impact of laser power density on tribological properties of Pulsed Laser Deposited DLC films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gayathri, S.; Kumar, N.; Krishnan, R.; AmirthaPandian, S.; Ravindran, T. R.; Dash, S.; Tyagi, A. K.; Sridharan, M.

2013-12-01

Fabrication of wear resistant and low friction carbon films on the engineered substrates is considered as a challenging task for expanding the applications of diamond-like carbon (DLC) films. In this paper, pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique is used to deposit DLC films on two different types of technologically important class of substrates such as silicon and AISI 304 stainless steel. Laser power density is one of the important parameter used to tailor the fraction of sp2 bonded amorphous carbon (a-C) and tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) made by sp3 domain in the DLC film. The I(D)/I(G) ratio decreases with the increasing laser power density which is associated with decrease in fraction of a-C/ta-C ratio. The fraction of these chemical components is quantitatively analyzed by EELS which is well supported to the data obtained from the Raman spectroscopy. Tribological properties of the DLC are associated with chemical structure of the film. However, the super low value of friction coefficient 0.003 is obtained when the film is predominantly constituted by a-C and sp2 fraction which is embedded within the clusters of ta-C. Such a particular film with super low friction coefficient is measured while it was deposited on steel at low laser power density of 2 GW/cm2. The super low friction mechanism is explained by low sliding resistance of a-C/sp2 and ta-C clusters. Combination of excellent physical and mechanical properties of wear resistance and super low friction coefficient of DLC films is desirable for engineering applications. Moreover, the high friction coefficient of DLC films deposited at 9GW/cm2 is related to widening of the intergrain distance caused by transformation from sp2 to sp3 hybridized structure.

Dose rate effect on micronuclei induction in human blood lymphocytes exposed to single pulse and multiple pulses of electrons.

PubMed

Acharya, Santhosh; Bhat, N N; Joseph, Praveen; Sanjeev, Ganesh; Sreedevi, B; Narayana, Y

2011-05-01

The effects of single pulses and multiple pulses of 7 MV electrons on micronuclei (MN) induction in cytokinesis-blocked human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were investigated over a wide range of dose rates per pulse (instantaneous dose rate). PBLs were exposed to graded doses of 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 Gy of single electron pulses of varying pulse widths at different dose rates per pulse, ranging from 1 × 10(6) Gy s(-1) to 3.2 × 10(8) Gy s(-1). Different dose rates per pulse were achieved by changing the dose per electron pulse by adjusting the beam current and pulse width. MN yields per unit absorbed dose after irradiation with single electron pulses were compared with those of multiple pulses of electrons. A significant decrease in the MN yield with increasing dose rates per pulse was observed, when dose was delivered by a single electron pulse. However, no reduction in the MN yield was observed when dose was delivered by multiple pulses of electrons. The decrease in the yield at high dose rates per pulse suggests possible radical recombination, which leads to decreased biological damage. Cellular response to the presence of very large numbers of chromosomal breaks may also alter the damage.

The Casualty Network System Capstone Project

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-12-01

capable of recording and transmitting a variety of vital signs such as: pulse rate, respiratory rate, SpO2 , and skin temperature. The IBD transmits...monitor biometric data of each individual on the team. When the MM is combined with CBRN sensor detection, the device will alert in the network to...obvious. By constantly monitoring vital signs of the team involved early clues of exposure (such as decreased SpO2 , increased respiratory rate and

Enhancement of beam pulse controllability for a single-pulse formation system of a cyclotron.

PubMed

Kurashima, Satoshi; Miyawaki, Nobumasa; Kashiwagi, Hirotsugu; Okumura, Susumu; Taguchi, Mitsumasa; Fukuda, Mitsuhiro

2015-07-01

The single-pulse formation technique using a beam chopping system consisting of two types of high-voltage beam kickers was improved to enhance the quality and intensity of the single-pulse beam with a pulse interval over 1 μs at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency cyclotron facility. A contamination rate of neighboring beam bunches in the single-pulse beam was reduced to less than 0.1%. Long-term purification of the single pulse beam was guaranteed by the well-controlled magnetic field stabilization system for the cyclotron magnet. Reduction of the multi-turn extraction number for suppressing the neighboring beam bunch contamination was achieved by restriction of a beam phase width and precise optimization of a particle acceleration phase. In addition, the single-pulse beam intensity was increased by a factor of two or more by a combination of two types of beam bunchers using sinusoidal and saw-tooth voltage waveforms. Provision of the high quality intense single-pulse beam contributed to improve the accuracy of experiments for investigation of scintillation light time-profile and for neutron energy measurement by a time-of-flight method.

Enhancement of beam pulse controllability for a single-pulse formation system of a cyclotron

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kurashima, Satoshi, E-mail: kurashima.satoshi@jaea.go.jp; Miyawaki, Nobumasa; Kashiwagi, Hirotsugu

The single-pulse formation technique using a beam chopping system consisting of two types of high-voltage beam kickers was improved to enhance the quality and intensity of the single-pulse beam with a pulse interval over 1 μs at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency cyclotron facility. A contamination rate of neighboring beam bunches in the single-pulse beam was reduced to less than 0.1%. Long-term purification of the single pulse beam was guaranteed by the well-controlled magnetic field stabilization system for the cyclotron magnet. Reduction of the multi-turn extraction number for suppressing the neighboring beam bunch contamination was achieved by restriction of amore » beam phase width and precise optimization of a particle acceleration phase. In addition, the single-pulse beam intensity was increased by a factor of two or more by a combination of two types of beam bunchers using sinusoidal and saw-tooth voltage waveforms. Provision of the high quality intense single-pulse beam contributed to improve the accuracy of experiments for investigation of scintillation light time-profile and for neutron energy measurement by a time-of-flight method.« less

Lung Surfactant Microbubbles Increase Lipophilic Drug Payload for Ultrasound-Targeted Delivery

PubMed Central

Sirsi, Shashank R.; Fung, Chinpong; Garg, Sumit; Tianning, Mary Y.; Mountford, Paul A.; Borden, Mark A.

2013-01-01

The cavitation response of circulating microbubbles to targeted ultrasound can be used for noninvasive, site-specific delivery of shell-loaded materials. One challenge for microbubble-mediated delivery of lipophilic compounds is the limitation of drug loading into the microbubble shell, which is commonly a single phospholipid monolayer. In this study, we investigated the use of natural lung surfactant extract (Survanta®, Abbott Nutrition) as a microbubble shell material in order to improve drug payload and delivery. Pulmonary surfactant extracts such as Survanta contain hydrophobic surfactant proteins (SP-B and SP-C) that facilitate lipid folding and retention on lipid monolayers. Here, we show that Survanta-based microbubbles exhibit wrinkles in bright-field microscopy and increased lipid retention on the microbubble surface in the form of surface-associated aggregates observed with fluorescence microscopy. The payload of a model lipophilic drug (DiO), measured by flow cytometry, increased by over 2-fold compared to lipid-coated microbubbles lacking SP-B and SP-C. Lung surfactant microbubbles were highly echogenic to contrast enhanced ultrasound imaging at low acoustic intensities. At higher ultrasound intensity, excess lipid was observed to be acoustically cleaved for localized release. To demonstrate targeting, a biotinylated lipopolymer was incorporated into the shell, and the microbubbles were subjected to a sequence of radiation force and fragmentation pulses as they passed through an avidinated hollow fiber. Lung surfactant microbubbles showed a 3-fold increase in targeted deposition of the model fluorescent drug compared to lipid-only microbubbles. Our results demonstrate that lung surfactant microbubbles maintain the acoustic responsiveness of lipid-coated microbubbles with the added benefit of increased lipophilic drug payload. PMID:23781287

Lung surfactant microbubbles increase lipophilic drug payload for ultrasound-targeted delivery.

PubMed

Sirsi, Shashank R; Fung, Chinpong; Garg, Sumit; Tianning, Mary Y; Mountford, Paul A; Borden, Mark A

2013-01-01

The cavitation response of circulating microbubbles to targeted ultrasound can be used for noninvasive, site-specific delivery of shell-loaded materials. One challenge for microbubble-mediated delivery of lipophilic compounds is the limitation of drug loading into the microbubble shell, which is commonly a single phospholipid monolayer. In this study, we investigated the use of natural lung surfactant extract (Survanta(®), Abbott Nutrition) as a microbubble shell material in order to improve drug payload and delivery. Pulmonary surfactant extracts such as Survanta contain hydrophobic surfactant proteins (SP-B and SP-C) that facilitate lipid folding and retention on lipid monolayers. Here, we show that Survanta-based microbubbles exhibit wrinkles in bright-field microscopy and increased lipid retention on the microbubble surface in the form of surface-associated aggregates observed with fluorescence microscopy. The payload of a model lipophilic drug (DiO), measured by flow cytometry, increased by over 2-fold compared to lipid-coated microbubbles lacking SP-B and SP-C. Lung surfactant microbubbles were highly echogenic to contrast enhanced ultrasound imaging at low acoustic intensities. At higher ultrasound intensity, excess lipid was observed to be acoustically cleaved for localized release. To demonstrate targeting, a biotinylated lipopolymer was incorporated into the shell, and the microbubbles were subjected to a sequence of radiation force and fragmentation pulses as they passed through an avidinated hollow fiber. Lung surfactant microbubbles showed a 3-fold increase in targeted deposition of the model fluorescent drug compared to lipid-only microbubbles. Our results demonstrate that lung surfactant microbubbles maintain the acoustic responsiveness of lipid-coated microbubbles with the added benefit of increased lipophilic drug payload.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as a Tool for Early Diagnosis and Prognostication in Cortico-Basal Ganglia Degeneration (CBD) Syndromes: Review of Literature and Case Report.

PubMed

Issac, Thomas Gregor; Chandra, Sadanandavalli Retnaswami; Nagaraju, B C

2016-01-01

Cortico basal degeneration (CBD) of the brain is a rare progressive neurodegenerative disease which encompasses unique neuropsychiatric manifestations. Early diagnosis is essential for initiating proper treatment and favorable outcome. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a well-known technique for assessment of cortical excitatory and inhibitory properties. It was suggested that in a degenerative disease like CBD which involves the cortex as well as the subcortical structures, comparing both hemispheres, a differential pattern in TMS can be obtained which would help in early identification, prognostication and early therapeutic intervention. We describe a case of CBD with corroborative clinical and imaging picture wherein single pulse TMS was used over both the hemispheres measuring the following parameters of interest which included: Motor Threshold (MT), Central Motor Conduction Time (CMCT) and Silent Period (SP). Differential patterns of MT, CMCT and SP was obtained by stimulating over both the hemispheres with the affected hemisphere showing significantly reduced MT and prolonged CMCT implying early impairment of cortical and subcortical structures thereby revealing the potential application of TMS being utilized in a novel way for early detection and prognostication in CBD syndromes.

Spectral and Temporal Properties of the Alpha and Beta Subunits and (alpha Beta) Monomer Isolated from Nostoc SP. Using Picosecond Laser Spectroscopy.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dagen, Aaron J.

1985-12-01

The fluorescence decay profiles, relative quantum yield and transmission of the (alpha), (beta) and ((alpha)(beta)) complexes from phycoerythrin isolated from the photosynthetic antenna system of Nostoc sp. and measured by single picosecond laser spectroscopic techniques is studied. The fluorescence decay profiles of all three complexes are found to be intensity independent for the intensity range investigated ((TURN)4 x 10('13) to (TURN)4 x 10('15) photons-cm('-2) per pulse). The apparent decrease in the relative quantum yield of all three complexes as intensity increases is offset by a corresponding increase in the relative transmission. This evidence, along with the intensity independent fluorescence kinetics, suggests that exciton annihilation is absent in these complexes. The decay profiles are fit to models assuming energy transfer amongst fluorescing chromophores. The intraprotein transfer rate is found to be 100 ps in the (alpha) subunit, 666 ps in the (beta) subunit. Constraining these rates to be identical in the monomer results in explaining the monomer kinetics by an increase in the nonradiative rate of the f(,(beta)) chromophore, an apparent result of aggregation effects.

Spectral and temporal properties of the alpha and beta subunits and (alpha beta) monomer isolated from Nostoc sp. using picosecond laser spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dagen, A. J.

1985-12-01

The fluorescence decay profiles, relative quantum yield and transmission of the alpha, beta and (alpha beta) complexes from phycoerythrin isolated from the photosynthetic antenna system of Nostoc sp. and measured by single picosecond laser spectroscopic techniques is studied. The fluorescence decay profiles of all three complexes are found to be intensity independent for the intensity range investigated (approx. 4x10 to the 13th power to 4x10 to the 15th power photons/sq cm per pulse). The apparent decrease in the relative quantum yield of all three complexes as intensity increases is offset by a corresponding increase in the relative transmission. This evidence, along with the intensity independent fluorescence kinetics, suggests that exciton annihilation is absent in these complexes. The decay profiles are fit to models assuming energy transfer amongst fluorescing chromophores. The intraprotein transfer rate is found to be 100 ps in the alpha subunit, 666 ps in the beta subunit. Constraining these rates to be identical in the monomer results in explaining the monomer kinetics by an increase in the nonradiative rate of the f beta chromophore, an apparent result of aggregation effects.

Broadband enhancement of single photon emission and polarization dependent coupling in silicon nitride waveguides.

PubMed

Bisschop, Suzanne; Guille, Antoine; Van Thourhout, Dries; Hens, Zeger; Brainis, Edouard

2015-06-01

Single-photon (SP) sources are important for a number of optical quantum information processing applications. We study the possibility to integrate triggered solid-state SP emitters directly on a photonic chip. A major challenge consists in efficiently extracting their emission into a single guided mode. Using 3D finite-difference time-domain simulations, we investigate the SP emission from dipole-like nanometer-sized inclusions embedded into different silicon nitride (SiNx) photonic nanowire waveguide designs. We elucidate the effect of the geometry on the emission lifetime and the polarization of the emitted SP. The results show that highly efficient and polarized SP sources can be realized using suspended SiNx slot-waveguides. Combining this with the well-established CMOS-compatible processing technology, fully integrated and complex optical circuits for quantum optics experiments can be developed.

Lifebox pulse oximeter implementation in Malawi: evaluation of educational outcomes and impact on oxygen desaturation episodes during anaesthesia.

PubMed

Albert, V; Mndolo, S; Harrison, E M; O'Sullivan, E; Wilson, I H; Walker, I A

2017-06-01

Pulse oximetry is an essential monitor for safe anaesthesia but is often not available in low-income countries. The aim of this study was to determine whether the introduction of pulse oximetry with training was feasible and could reduce the incidence of oxygen desaturation during anaesthesia in a low-income country. Pulse oximeters were donated, with training, to 83 non-physician anaesthetists in Malawi. Knowledge was tested immediately before and after training and at follow-up. Providers were asked to record the lowest peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) for the first 100 cases anaesthetised after training. The primary clinical outcome was the proportion of cases with an oxygen desaturation event (SpO 2 < 90%). Seventy-seven of 83 (93%) participants completed all pre- and post-training tests. Pulse oximetry knowledge improved after training from a median (IQR [range]) score of 39 (37-42 [28-48]) to 44 (42-46 [35-50]) and this knowledge was maintained for 8 months (p < 0.001). Oxygen saturation data and provider responses were recorded for 4772 cases. The proportion of oxygen desaturation episodes decreased from 17.2% to 6.5%, representing a 36% reduction in the odds of an oxygen desaturation event in the second 50 cases compared with the first 50 (OR 0.64, 95%CI 0.50-0.82, p < 0.001). We conclude that donation of pulse oximeters, with training, in Malawi was feasible, improved knowledge and reduced the incidence of oxygen desaturation events. © 2017 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.

Cerebral arterial oxygen saturation measurements using a fiber-optic pulse oximeter.

PubMed

Phillips, J P; Langford, R M; Chang, S H; Maney, K; Kyriacou, P A; Jones, D P

2010-10-01

A pilot investigation was undertaken to assess the performance of a novel fiber-optic cerebral pulse oximetry system. A fiber-optic probe designed to pass through the lumen of a cranial bolt of the type used to make intracranial pressure measurements was used to obtain optical reflectance signals directly from brain tissue. Short-duration measurements were made in six patients undergoing neurosurgery. These were followed by a longer duration measurement in a patient recovering from an intracerebral hematoma. Estimations of cerebral arterial oxygen saturation derived from a frequency domain-based algorithm are compared with simultaneous pulse oximetry (SpO2) and hemoximeter (SaO2) blood samples. The short-duration measurements showed that reliable photoplethysmographic signals could be obtained from the brain tissue. In the long-duration study, the mean (±SD) difference between cerebral oxygen saturation (ScaO2) and finger SpO2 (in saturation units) was -7.47(±3.4)%. The mean (±SD) difference between ScaO2 and blood SaO2 was -7.37(±2.8)%. This pilot study demonstrated that arterial oxygen saturation may be estimated from brain tissue via a fiber-optic pulse oximeter used in conjunction with a cranial bolt. Further studies are needed to confirm the clinical utility of the technique.

Development of a smartphone-based pulse oximeter with adaptive SNR/power balancing.

PubMed

Phelps, Tom; Haowei Jiang; Hall, Drew A

2017-07-01

Millions worldwide suffer from diseases that exhibit early warnings signs that can be detected by standard clinical-grade diagnostic tools. Unfortunately, such tools are often prohibitively expensive to the developing world leading to inadequate healthcare and high mortality rates. To address this problem, a smartphone-based pulse oximeter is presented that interfaces with the phone through the audio jack, enabling point-of-care measurements of heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ). The device is designed to utilize existing phone resources (e.g., the processor, battery, and memory) resulting in a more portable and inexpensive diagnostic tool than standalone equivalents. By adaptively tuning the LED driving signal, the device is less dependent on phone-specific audio jack properties than prior audio jack-based work making it universally compatible with all smartphones. We demonstrate that the pulse oximeter can adaptively optimize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) within the power constraints of a mobile phone (<; 10mW) while maintaining high accuracy (HR error <; 3.4% and SpO 2 error <; 3.7%) against a clinical grade instrument.

Merged and corrected 915 MHz Radar Wind Profiler moments

DOE Data Explorer

Jonathan Helmus,Virendra Ghate, Frederic Tridon

2014-06-25

The radar wind profiler (RWP) present at the SGP central facility operates at 915 MHz and was reconfigured in early 2011, to collect key sets of measurements for precipitation and boundary layer studies. The RWP is configured to run in two main operating modes: a precipitation (PR) mode with frequent vertical observations and a boundary layer (BL) mode that is similar to what has been traditionally applied to RWPs. To address issues regarding saturation of the radar signal, range resolution and maximum range, the RWP PR mode is set to operate with two different pulse lengths, termed as short pulse (SP) and long pulse (LP). Please refer to the RWP handbook (Coulter, 2012) for further information. Data from the RWP PR-SP and PR-LP modes have been extensively used to study deep precipitating clouds, especially their dynamical structure as the RWP data does not suffer from signal attenuation during these conditions (Giangrande et al., 2013). Tridon et al. (2013) used the data collected during the Mid-latitude Continental Convective Cloud Experiment (MC3E) to improve the estimation of noise floor of the RWP recorded Doppler spectra.

Retinopathy of prematurity and the oxygen conundrum: lessons learned from recent randomized trials.

PubMed

Fleck, Brian W; Stenson, Ben J

2013-06-01

Emerging data from randomised controlled trials of different pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) target ranges shows that higher SpO(2) targets are associated with a higher risk of severe retinopathy of prematurity. However, the trials have also shown that higher SpO(2) targets are associated with improved survival. In the light of these results and pending the full results for long-term outcome, it is recommended that oxygen saturation targets for preterm infants of gestational age less than 28 weeks at birth should be maintained at or more than 90%. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nocturnal oxygen saturation profiles of healthy term infants.

PubMed

Terrill, Philip Ian; Dakin, Carolyn; Hughes, Ian; Yuill, Maggie; Parsley, Chloe

2015-01-01

Pulse oximetry is used extensively in hospital and home settings to measure arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2). Interpretation of the trend and range of SpO2 values observed in infants is currently limited by a lack of reference ranges using current devices, and may be augmented by development of cumulative frequency (CF) reference-curves. This study aims to provide reference oxygen saturation values from a prospective longitudinal cohort of healthy infants. Prospective longitudinal cohort study. Sleep-laboratory. 34 healthy term infants were enrolled, and studied at 2 weeks, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months of age (N=30, 25, 27, 26, 20, respectively). Full overnight polysomnography, including 2 s averaging pulse oximetry (Masimo Radical). Summary SpO2 statistics (mean, median, 5th and 10th percentiles) and SpO2 CF plots were calculated for each recording. CF reference-curves were then generated for each study age. Analyses were repeated with sleep-state stratifications and inclusion of manual artefact removal. Median nocturnal SpO2 values ranged between 98% and 99% over the first 2 years of life and the CF reference-curves shift right by 1% between 2 weeks and 3 months. CF reference-curves did not change with manual artefact removal during sleep and did not vary between rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep. Manual artefact removal did significantly change summary statistics and CF reference-curves during wake. SpO2 CF curves provide an intuitive visual tool for evaluating whether an individual's nocturnal SpO2 distribution falls within the range of healthy age-matched infants, thereby complementing summary statistics in the interpretation of extended oximetry recordings in infants. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Through-Layer Buckle Wavelength-Gradient Design for the Coupling of High Sensitivity and Stretchability in a Single Strain Sensor.

PubMed

He, Tengyu; Lin, Chucheng; Shi, Liangjing; Wang, Ranran; Sun, Jing

2018-03-21

Recent years have witnessed a breathtaking development of wearable strain sensors. Coupling high sensitivity and stretchability in a strain sensor is greatly desired by emerging wearable applications but remains a big challenge. To tackle this issue, a through-layer buckle wavelength-gradient design is proposed and a facile and universal fabrication strategy is demonstrated to introduce such a gradient into the sensing film with multilayered sensing units. Following this strategy, strain sensors are fabricated using graphene woven fabrics (GWFs) as sensing units, which exhibit highly tunable electromechanical performances. Specifically, the sensor with 10-layer GWFs has a gauge factor (GF) of 2996 at a maximum strain of 242.74% and an average GF of 327. It also exhibits an extremely low minimum detection limit of 0.02% strain, a fast signal response of less than 90 ms, and a high cyclic durability through more than 10 000 cycling test. Such excellent performances qualify it in accurately monitoring full-range human activities, ranging from subtle stimuli (e.g., pulse, respiration, and voice recognition) to vigorous motions (finger bending, walking, jogging, and jumping). The combination of experimental observations and modeling study shows that the predesigned through-layer buckle wavelength gradient leads to a layer-by-layer crack propagation process, which accounts for the underlying working mechanism. Modeling study shows a great potential for further improvement of sensing performances by adjusting fabrication parameters such as layers of sensing units ( n) and step pre-strain (ε sp ). For one thing, when ε sp is fixed, the maximum sensing strain could be adjusted from >240% ( n = 10) to >450% ( n = 15) and >1200% ( n = 20). For the other, when n is fixed, the maximum sensing strain could be adjusted from >240% (ε sp = 13.2%) to >400% (ε sp = 18%) and >800% (ε sp = 25%).

Efficient optical pulse stacker system

DOEpatents

Seppala, Lynn G.; Haas, Roger A.

1982-01-01

Method and apparatus for spreading and angle-encoding each pulse of a multiplicity of small area, short pulses into several temporally staggered pulses by use of appropriate beam splitters, with the optical elements being arranged so that each staggered pulse is contiguous with one or two other such pulses, and the entire sequence of stacked pulses comprising a single, continuous long pulse. The single long pulse is expanded in area, and then doubly passed through a nonstorage laser amplifier such as KrF. After amplification, the physically separated, angle-encoded and temporally staggered pulses are recombined into a single pulse of short duration. This high intensity output beam is well collimated and may be propagated over long distance, or used for irradiating inertial confinement fusion targets.

The implementation and data analysis of an interferometer for intense short pulse laser experiments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Park, Jaebum; Baldis, Hector A.; Chen, Hui

We present an interferometry setup and the detailed fringe analysis method for intense short pulse (SP) laser experiments. The interferometry scheme was refined through multiple campaigns to investigate the effects of pre-plasmas on energetic electrons at the Jupiter Laser Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The interferometer used a frequency doubled (more » $${\\it\\lambda}=0.527~{\\rm\\mu}\\text{m}$$) 0.5 ps long optical probe beam to measure the pre-plasma density, an invaluable parameter to better understand how varying pre-plasma conditions affect the characteristics of the energetic electrons. The hardware of the diagnostic, data analysis and example data are presented. Here, the diagnostic setup and the analysis procedure can be employed for any other SP laser experiments and interferograms, respectively.« less

The implementation and data analysis of an interferometer for intense short pulse laser experiments

DOE PAGES

Park, Jaebum; Baldis, Hector A.; Chen, Hui

2016-08-03

We present an interferometry setup and the detailed fringe analysis method for intense short pulse (SP) laser experiments. The interferometry scheme was refined through multiple campaigns to investigate the effects of pre-plasmas on energetic electrons at the Jupiter Laser Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The interferometer used a frequency doubled (more » $${\\it\\lambda}=0.527~{\\rm\\mu}\\text{m}$$) 0.5 ps long optical probe beam to measure the pre-plasma density, an invaluable parameter to better understand how varying pre-plasma conditions affect the characteristics of the energetic electrons. The hardware of the diagnostic, data analysis and example data are presented. Here, the diagnostic setup and the analysis procedure can be employed for any other SP laser experiments and interferograms, respectively.« less

From few-cycle femtosecond pulse to single attosecond pulse-controlling and tracking electron dynamics with attosecond precision

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, He

The few-cycle femtosecond laser pulse has proved itself to be a powerful tool for controlling the electron dynamics inside atoms and molecules. By applying such few-cycle pulses as a driving field, single isolated attosecond pulses can be produced through the high-order harmonic generation process, which provide a novel tool for capturing the real time electron motion. The first part of the thesis is devoted to the state of the art few-cycle near infrared (NIR) laser pulse development, which includes absolute phase control (carrier-envelope phase stabilization), amplitude control (power stabilization), and relative phase control (pulse compression and shaping). Then the double optical gating (DOG) method for generating single attosecond pulses and the attosecond streaking experiment for characterizing such pulses are presented. Various experimental limitations in the attosecond streaking measurement are illustrated through simulation. Finally by using the single attosecond pulses generated by DOG, an attosecond transient absorption experiment is performed to study the autoionization process of argon. When the delay between a few-cycle NIR pulse and a single attosecond XUV pulse is scanned, the Fano resonance shapes of the argon autoionizing states are modified by the NIR pulse, which shows the direct observation and control of electron-electron correlation in the temporal domain.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Friedmann, T.A.; Tallant, D.R.; Barbour, J.C.

Carbon Nitride (CN{sub x}) films have been grown by ion-assisted pulsed-laser deposition (IAPLD). Graphite targets were laser ablated while bombarding the substrate with ions from a broad-beam Kaufman-type ion source. Ion voltage, current density, substrate temperature, and feed gas composition (N{sub 2} in Ar) were varied. Resultant films were characterized by Raman. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Rutherford back scattering (RBS) spectroscopy. Samples with {approximately} 30% N/C ratio have been fabricated. The corresponding Raman and FTIR spectra indicate that nitrogen is incorporated into the samples by insertion into sp{sup 2}-bonded structures. A low level of C{identical_to}N triple bonds is alsomore » found. As the ion current and voltage are increased with a pure Ar ion beam, Raman peaks associated with nanocrystalline graphite appear in the spectra. Adding low levels of nitrogen to the ion beam first reduces the Raman intensity in the vicinity of the graphite disorder peak without adding detectable amounts of nitrogen to the films (as measured by RBS). At higher nitrogen levels in the ion beam, significant amounts of nitrogen are incorporated into the samples, and the magnitude of the ``disorder`` peak increases. By increasing the temperature of the substrate during deposition, the broad peak due mainly to sp{sup 2}-bonded C-N in the FTIR spectra is shifted to lower wavenumber. This could be interpreted as evidence of single-bonded C-N; however, it is more likely that the character of the sp{sup 2} bonding is changing.« less

Time Duration of Oxygen Adaptation Immediately after Birth; Monitoring by Pulse Oximeter in Perinatal Period of the Infants at Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital.

PubMed

Suwattanaphim, Suparach; Yodavuhd, Sirisanpang; Puangsa-art, Supalarp

2015-07-01

Oxygen Saturation is one of the important data to determine patient status and worldwide applied in several situations. Evaluation about status of immediate perinatal period of the infant usually uses clinical assessment, Apgar scoring, which had been used for a long time without other scientific measurement. Pulse oximeter the non-invasive measurement of oxygen saturation, may play role for oxygen saturation evaluation in newborn that immediately change from intra to extra uterine environment. Monitoring the time duration that immediately born infants by normal labor or Cesarean section modes, used to archived target oxygen saturation (SpO) and looking for the other factors that influence oxygen saturation adaptation. The data of the 553 infants born in Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand between October 2012 and April 2013 were collected. The 204 healthy newborns that met all criteria were studied. All infants were recorded pulse oximeter from the second to the tenth minute after birth. They were grouped by several factors such as maternal gravidity, gestational age, mode of delivery, Apgar score, birth weight, and sex. Time interval to achieve target oxygen saturation (SpO2 ≥ 90%) was collected for analysis. The oxygen saturation of infants immediately after birth showed an increase. Median time interval was 6.5 (2-10) minutes for 90% saturation and 7 (2-10) minutes for 95% saturation, respectively. Only mode of delivery showed statistical significant time difference (p < 0.001). A Cox proportional hazards analysis of the Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that infants born by cesarean delivery took significantly longer time to reach a stable SpO2 ≥ 90% than infants born by vaginal delivery (95% CI = 1.28 to 2.74; p < 0.01). A newly born infant has to take 6.5 minutes (2-10) after birth to adjust their oxygen saturation to reach normal higher level of extra uterine life, median SpO2 of 90%. Furthermore, mode of delivery makes a significant difference of oxygen saturation status; the cesarean route takes significantly longer time than the vaginal route to achieve SpO2 ≥ 90%.

Design and Evaluation of a Single-Inlet Pulse Detonation Combustor

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

Kilogram/second m/s Meters/ second N Nitrogen NPS Naval Postgraduate School O Oxygen PDC Pulse Detonation Combustion PDE Pulse Detonation Engine...EVALUATION OF A SINGLE-INLET PULSE DETONATION COMBUSTOR by Danny Soria June 2011 Thesis Advisor: Christopher M. Brophy Second Reader: Garth V...COVERED Master’s Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Design and Evaluation of a Single-Inlet Pulse Detonation Combustor 6. AUTHOR(S) Danny Soria 5

The Diplommatinidae of Fiji – a hotspot of Pacific land snail biodiversity (Caenogastropoda, Cyclophoroidea)

PubMed Central

Neubert, Eike; Bouchet, Philippe

2015-01-01

Abstract The minute (adult size 1.3–4.8 mm) land snail species of the family Diplommatinidae in the Fiji archipelago are revised based on historical material and modern (1998–99) collections targeting limestone outcrops on the largest island, Viti Levu, and several smaller islands in the Lau group. The forty-two species (including 30 new species) belong to the genera Moussonia Semper, 1865, Palaina Semper, 1865 and Diancta Martens, 1867, which are briefly characterized and keyed. The diagnostic structure of the inner lamellar system of each species is illustrated. All species except one are endemic to Fiji. In Viti Levu, the 12 localities surveyed each had 1–13 (average 5) species of Diplommatinidae; ten species were each found at a single site only. In the Lau islands, five islands were visited, with 1–4 species per island; four species are known from single islands. The number of historically known species not recollected in 1998–99 (7 species), the number of single-site occurrences (14 species), and the numerous islands — including limestone islands — that have not been surveyed at all, indicate that the 42 species of Diplommatinidae currently known from Fiji represent perhaps only half of the Fiji diplommatinid fauna. Such numbers approach the diplommatinid diversity of Palau (39 described and more than 60 undescribed species), and surpasses by far the diversity of other South Pacific archipelagos of comparable land area (New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Samoa). Nomenclatural acts: Lectotypes designated: Diplommatina fuscula, Diplommatina fuscula var. vitiana, Diplommatina godeffroyana, Diplommatina godeffroyana var. latecostata, Diplommatina tuberosa, Diplommatina martensi var. macrostoma, all Mousson, 1870. Neotypes designated: Diplommatina subregularis, Diplommatina ascendens, Diplommatina quadrata, all Mousson, 1870. New species: Diancta aurea sp. n., Diancta aurita sp. n., Diancta basiplana sp. n., Diancta controversa sp. n., Diancta densecostulata sp. n., Diancta dextra sp. n., Diancta dilatata sp. n., Diancta distorta sp. n., Diancta pulchella sp. n., Diancta rotunda sp. n., Diancta subquadrata sp. n., Diancta trilamellata sp. n., Moussonia acuta sp. n., Moussonia barkeri sp. n., Moussonia brodieae sp. n., Moussonia longipalatalis sp. n., Moussonia minutissima sp. n., Moussonia obesa sp. n., Moussonia polita sp. n., Moussonia uncinata sp. n., Moussonia vitianoides sp. n., Palaina alberti sp. n., Palaina flammulata sp. n., Palaina glabella sp. n., Palaina kitteli sp. n., Palaina labeosa sp. n., Palaina parietalis sp. n., Palaina sulcata sp. n., Palaina truncata sp. n., Palaina tuberosissima sp. n. PMID:25829849

Single-electron pulses for ultrafast diffraction

PubMed Central

Aidelsburger, M.; Kirchner, F. O.; Krausz, F.; Baum, P.

2010-01-01

Visualization of atomic-scale structural motion by ultrafast electron diffraction and microscopy requires electron packets of shortest duration and highest coherence. We report on the generation and application of single-electron pulses for this purpose. Photoelectric emission from metal surfaces is studied with tunable ultraviolet pulses in the femtosecond regime. The bandwidth, efficiency, coherence, and electron pulse duration are investigated in dependence on excitation wavelength, intensity, and laser bandwidth. At photon energies close to the cathode’s work function, the electron pulse duration shortens significantly and approaches a threshold that is determined by interplay of the optical pulse width and the acceleration field. An optimized choice of laser wavelength and bandwidth results in sub-100-fs electron pulses. We demonstrate single-electron diffraction from polycrystalline diamond films and reveal the favorable influences of matched photon energies on the coherence volume of single-electron wave packets. We discuss the consequences of our findings for the physics of the photoelectric effect and for applications of single-electron pulses in ultrafast 4D imaging of structural dynamics. PMID:21041681

Experimental and numerical investigations on PDE performance augmentation by means of an ejector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Canteins, G.; Franzetti, F.; Zocłońska, E.; Khasainov, B. A.; Zitoun, R.; Desbordes, D.

2006-06-01

To improve the performance of pulse detonation engines, a 48 cm long cylindrical combustion chamber of 5cm internal diameter (i.d.) is fitted with an ejector of constant section. The role of the ejector is (i) to provide partial confinement of the detonation products escaping from the chamber and (ii) to suck in fresh air and then to increase the mass ejected compared to the ejection of burned gases alone. The combustion chamber is fully filled with a stoichiometric ethylene/oxygen mixture at ambient conditions. Three parameters of the ejector are varied: the i.d. D, the length L, and the position d relative to the thrust wall of the combustion chamber. For various configurations, the specific impulse ( I sp) is determined in single shot experiments. The maximum operating frequency ( f max) and the maximum thrust are then deduced. I sp is measured by means of the ballistic pendulum method, and f max is derived from the pressure signal recorded on the combustion chamber thrust wall. The addition of an ejector increases the specific impulse up to 60% in the best configuration tested, from 164s without ejector to 260s with ejector. The specific impulse can be represented by a single curve using suitable dimensionless parameters. The thrust results for the main ejector studied ( D = 80mm) indicate an optimal ( L, d) configuration that provides a 28% thrust gain. For the same ejector, f max remains constant and equal to the frequency obtained without ejector in a large range of ( L, d) values, before decreasing. Two-dimensional unsteady numerical computations agree reasonably with the experiments, slightly overestimating the experimental values. The results indicate that 80% of the I sp gain comes from the action of the expanding detonation products on the annular end surface of the combustion chamber, governed by the tube wall thickness.

Kinetic Modeling of ABCG2 Transporter Heterogeneity: A Quantitative, Single-Cell Analysis of the Side Population Assay

PubMed Central

Prasanphanich, Adam F.; White, Douglas E.; Gran, Margaret A.

2016-01-01

The side population (SP) assay, a technique used in cancer and stem cell research, assesses the activity of ABC transporters on Hoechst staining in the presence and absence of transporter inhibition, identifying SP and non-SP cell (NSP) subpopulations by differential staining intensity. The interpretation of the assay is complicated because the transporter-mediated mechanisms fail to account for cell-to-cell variability within a population or adequately control the direct role of transporter activity on staining intensity. We hypothesized that differences in dye kinetics at the single-cell level, such as ABCG2 transporter-mediated efflux and DNA binding, are responsible for the differential cell staining that demarcates SP/NSP identity. We report changes in A549 phenotype during time in culture and with TGFβ treatment that correlate with SP size. Clonal expansion of individually sorted cells re-established both SP and NSPs, indicating that SP membership is dynamic. To assess the validity of a purely kinetics-based interpretation of SP/NSP identity, we developed a computational approach that simulated cell staining within a heterogeneous cell population; this exercise allowed for the direct inference of the role of transporter activity and inhibition on cell staining. Our simulated SP assay yielded appropriate SP responses for kinetic scenarios in which high transporter activity existed in a portion of the cells and little differential staining occurred in the majority of the population. With our approach for single-cell analysis, we observed SP and NSP cells at both ends of a transporter activity continuum, demonstrating that features of transporter activity as well as DNA content are determinants of SP/NSP identity. PMID:27851764

The Role of Ambient Gas and Pressure on the Structuring of Hard Diamond-Like Carbon Films Synthesized by Pulsed Laser Deposition

PubMed Central

Popescu, Andrei C.; Stan, George E.; Duta, Liviu; Nita, Cristina; Popescu, Camelia; Surdu, Vasile-Adrian; Husanu, Marius-Adrian; Bita, Bogdan; Ghisleni, Rudy; Himcinschi, Cameliu; Craciun, Valentin

2015-01-01

Hard carbon thin films were synthesized on Si (100) and quartz substrates by the Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) technique in vacuum or methane ambient to study their suitability for applications requiring high mechanical resistance. The deposited films’ surface morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, crystalline status by X-ray diffraction, packing and density by X-ray reflectivity, chemical bonding by Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, adherence by “pull-out” measurements and mechanical properties by nanoindentation tests. Films synthesized in vacuum were a-C DLC type, while films synthesized in methane were categorized as a-C:H. The majority of PLD films consisted of two layers: one low density layer towards the surface and a higher density layer in contact with the substrate. The deposition gas pressure played a crucial role on films thickness, component layers thickness ratio, structure and mechanical properties. The films were smooth, amorphous and composed of a mixture of sp3-sp2 carbon, with sp3 content ranging between 50% and 90%. The thickness and density of the two constituent layers of a film directly determined its mechanical properties.

A new fibre optic pulse oximeter probe for monitoring splanchnic organ arterial blood oxygen saturation.

PubMed

Hickey, M; Samuels, N; Randive, N; Langford, R; Kyriacou, P A

2012-12-01

A new, continuous method of monitoring splanchnic organ oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) would make the early detection of inadequate tissue oxygenation feasible, reducing the risk of hypoperfusion, severe ischaemia, and, ultimately, death. In an attempt to provide such a device, a new fibre optic based reflectance pulse oximeter probe and processing system were developed followed by an in vivo evaluation of the technology on seventeen patients undergoing elective laparotomy. Photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals of good quality and high signal-to-noise ratio were obtained from the small bowel, large bowel, liver and stomach. Simultaneous peripheral PPG signals from the finger were also obtained for comparison purposes. Analysis of the amplitudes of all acquired PPG signals indicated much larger amplitudes for those signals obtained from splanchnic organs than those obtained from the finger. Estimated SpO(2) values for splanchnic organs showed good agreement with those obtained from the finger fibre optic probe and those obtained from a commercial device. These preliminary results suggest that a miniaturized 'indwelling' fibre optic sensor may be a suitable method for pre-operative and post-operative evaluation of splanchnic organ SpO(2) and their health. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dual-Pulse Pulse Position Modulation (DPPM) for Deep-Space Optical Communications: Performance and Practicality Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Jing; Hylton, Alan; Budinger, James; Nappier, Jennifer; Downey, Joseph; Raible, Daniel

2012-01-01

Due to its simplicity and robustness against wavefront distortion, pulse position modulation (PPM) with photon counting detector has been seriously considered for long-haul optical wireless systems. This paper evaluates the dual-pulse case and compares it with the conventional single-pulse case. Analytical expressions for symbol error rate and bit error rate are first derived and numerically evaluated, for the strong, negative-exponential turbulent atmosphere; and bandwidth efficiency and throughput are subsequently assessed. It is shown that, under a set of practical constraints including pulse width and pulse repetition frequency (PRF), dual-pulse PPM enables a better channel utilization and hence a higher throughput than it single-pulse counterpart. This result is new and different from the previous idealistic studies that showed multi-pulse PPM provided no essential information-theoretic gains than single-pulse PPM.

Carboxyhemoglobin Levels Induced by Cigarette Smoking Outdoors in Smokers.

PubMed

Schimmel, Jonathan; George, Naomi; Schwarz, John; Yousif, Sami; Suner, Selim; Hack, Jason B

2018-03-01

Non-invasive screening of carboxyhemoglobin saturation (SpCO) in the emergency department to detect occult exposure is increasingly common. The SpCO threshold to consider exposure in smokers is up to 9%. The literature supporting this cutoff is inadequate, and the impact of active smoking on SpCO saturation remains unclear. The primary objective was to characterize baseline SpCO in a cohort of smokers outdoors. Secondary objectives were to explore the impact of active smoking on SpCO and to compare SpCO between smokers and non-smokers. This was a prospective cohort pilot study in two outdoor urban public areas in the USA, in a convenience sample of adult smokers. SpCO saturations were assessed non-invasively before, during, and 2 min after cigarette smoking with pulse CO-oximetry. Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations, and a generalized estimating equation model. Eighty-five smokers had mean baseline SpCO of 2.7% (SD 2.6) and peak of 3.1% (SD 2.9), while 15 controls had SpCO 1.3% (SD 1.3). This was a significant difference. Time since last cigarette was associated with baseline SpCO, and active smoking increased mean SpCO. There was correlation among individual smokers' SpCO levels before, during, and 2 min after smoking, indicating smokers tended to maintain their baseline SpCO level. This study is the first to measure SpCO during active smoking in an uncontrolled environment. It suggests 80% of smokers have SpCO ≤ 5%, but potentially lends support for the current 9% as a threshold, depending on clinical context.

Evaluation of SOCOM Wireless Monitor in Trauma Patients

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-02-01

pulse   oximeter  consistently  underestimates  O2   saturation  and   does  not  reliably  follow  changes  in  O2...fingertip   sensor   detects:   arterial   saturation   by   pulse   oximetry   (SpO2),   heart   rate  derived  from  R  wave...prehospital  run  reports.    These  data    suggest  that   the  R

Effects of idle reduction technologies on real world fuel use and exhaust emissions of idling long-haul trucks.

PubMed

Frey, H Christopher; Kuo, Po-Yao; Villa, Charles

2009-09-01

Idling long-haul freight tucks may consume nearly one billion gallons of diesel fuel per year in the U.S. There is a need for real-world data by which to quantify avoided fuel use and emissions attributable to idle reduction techniques of auxiliary power units (APUs) and shore-power (SP). Field data were obtained from 20 APU-equipped and SP-compatible trucks observed during 2.8 million miles of travel in 42 states. Base engine fuel use and emission rates varied depending on ambient temperature. APU and SP energy use and emission rates varied depending on electrical load. APUs reduced idling fuel use and CO2 emissions for single and team drivers by 22 and 5% annually, respectively. SP offers greater reductions in energy use of 48% for single drivers, as well as in emissions, except for SO2. APUs were cost-effective for single drivers with a large number of APU usage hours per year, but not for team drivers or for single drivers with low APU utilization rates. The findings support more accurate assessments of avoided fuel use and emissions, and recommendations to encourage greater APU utilization by single drivers and to further develop infrastructure for SP.

Experimental Investigation of the Reflection Mode Micro Laser Propulsion under Highly Frequent and Multi Pulse Laser

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang Xinghua; Cai Jian; Li Long

Micro laser propulsion used for some space tasks of micro-satellites are preferred to providing small thrust and high specific impulse while keeping power consumption low. Most previous work on micro laser propulsion are about transmission mode (T-mode) using a CW laser. In this article, a pulsed fiber laser is used to study the micro laser propulsion performance under reflection mode. Multi pulse (ranged from 100 to 2000) tests are conducted on a double base propellant with the vacuum less than 10 Pa. The laser frequency is 20 kHz and two kinds of instantaneous power density 4.77x10{sup 6} W/cm{sup 2} andmore » 2.39x10{sup 7} W/cm{sup 2} are used. It is found that the momentum coupling coefficient C{sub m} and the mean thrust F increases with the increasing pulse numbers, which is different to the previous work. By adjusting the irradiation time T, it is easy to get a large mean thrust, up to mN. When the energy density is the same, C{sub m}, I{sub sp}, F and {eta} increase with the increasing power density. Also I{sub sp} and {eta} are very low, laser ablation is insufficiently under the current condition. 3D Morphology of the ablation hole is obtained by confocal microscope for the first time.« less

First day of life pulse oximetry screening to detect congenital heart defects.

PubMed

Meberg, Alf; Brügmann-Pieper, Sabine; Due, Reidar; Eskedal, Leif; Fagerli, Ingebjørg; Farstad, Teresa; Frøisland, Dag Helge; Sannes, Catharina Hovland; Johansen, Ole Jakob; Keljalic, Jasmina; Markestad, Trond; Nygaard, Egil Andre; Røsvik, Alet; Silberg, Inger Elisabeth

2008-06-01

To evaluate the efficacy of first day of life pulse oximetry screening to detect congenital heart defects (CHDs). We performed a population-based prospective multicenter study of postductal (foot) arterial oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) in apparently healthy newborns after transfer from the delivery suite to the nursery. SpO(2) < 95% led to further diagnostic evaluations. Of 57,959 live births, 50,008 (86%) were screened. In the screened population, 35 CHDs were [corrected] classified as critical (ductus dependent, cyanotic). CHDs were prospectively registered and diagnosed in 658/57,959 (1.1%) [corrected] Of the infants screened, 324 (0.6%) failed the test. Of these, 43 (13%) had CHDs (27 critical), and 134 (41%) had pulmonary diseases or other disorders. The remaining 147 infants (45%) were healthy with transitional circulation. The median age for babies with CHDs at failing the test was 6 hours (range, 1-21 hours). For identifying critical CHDs, the pulse oximetry screening had a sensitivity rate of 77.1% (95% CI, 59.4-89.0), specificity rate of 99.4% (95% CI, 99.3-99.5), and a false-positive rate of 0.6% (95% CI, 0.5-0.7). Early pulse oximetry screening promotes early detection of critical CHDs and other potentially severe diseases. The sensitivity rate for detecting critical CHDs is high, and the false-positive rate is low.

The Relationship Between Oxygen Reserve Index and Arterial Partial Pressure of Oxygen During Surgery.

PubMed

Applegate, Richard L; Dorotta, Ihab L; Wells, Briana; Juma, David; Applegate, Patricia M

2016-09-01

The use of intraoperative pulse oximetry (SpO2) enhances hypoxia detection and is associated with fewer perioperative hypoxic events. However, SpO2 may be reported as 98% when arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) is as low as 70 mm Hg. Therefore, SpO2 may not provide advance warning of falling arterial oxygenation until PaO2 approaches this level. Multiwave pulse co-oximetry can provide a calculated oxygen reserve index (ORI) that may add to information from pulse oximetry when SpO2 is >98%. This study evaluates the ORI to PaO2 relationship during surgery. We studied patients undergoing scheduled surgery in which arterial catheterization and intraoperative arterial blood gas analysis were planned. Data from multiple pulse co-oximetry sensors on each patient were continuously collected and stored on a research computer. Regression analysis was used to compare ORI with PaO2 obtained from each arterial blood gas measurement and changes in ORI with changes in PaO2 from sequential measurements. Linear mixed-effects regression models for repeated measures were then used to account for within-subject correlation across the repeatedly measured PaO2 and ORI and for the unequal time intervals of PaO2 determination over elapsed surgical time. Regression plots were inspected for ORI values corresponding to PaO2 of 100 and 150 mm Hg. ORI and PaO2 were compared using mixed-effects models with a subject-specific random intercept. ORI values and PaO2 measurements were obtained from intraoperative data collected from 106 patients. Regression analysis showed that the ORI to PaO2 relationship was stronger for PaO2 to 240 mm Hg (r = 0.536) than for PaO2 over 240 mm Hg (r = 0.0016). Measured PaO2 was ≥100 mm Hg for all ORI over 0.24. Measured PaO2 was ≥150 mm Hg in 96.6% of samples when ORI was over 0.55. A random intercept variance component linear mixed-effects model for repeated measures indicated that PaO2 was significantly related to ORI (β[95% confidence interval] = 0.002 [0.0019-0.0022]; P < 0.0001). A similar analysis indicated a significant relationship between change in PaO2 and change in ORI (β [95% confidence interval] = 0.0044 [0.0040-0.0048]; P < 0.0001). These findings suggest that ORI >0.24 can distinguish PaO2 ≥100 mm Hg when SpO2 is over 98%. Similarly, ORI > 0.55 appears to be a threshold to distinguish PaO2 ≥150 mm Hg. The usefulness of these values should be evaluated prospectively. Decreases in ORI to near 0.24 may provide advance indication of falling PaO2 approaching 100 mm Hg when SpO2 is >98%. The clinical utility of interventions based on continuous ORI monitoring should be studied prospectively.

Fluorescence kinetics of emission from a small finite volume of a biological system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dagen, A. J.; Alfano, R. R.; Zilinskas, B. A.; Swenberg, C. E.

1985-07-01

The fluorescence decay, apparent quantum yield and transmission from chromophores constrained to a microscopic volume using a single picosecond laser excitation were measured as a function of incident intensity. The β subunit of phycoeryhthrin aggregate isolated from the photosynthetic antenna system of Nostoc sp. was selected since it contains only four chromophores in a volume of less than 5.6×10 4 Å 3. The non-exponential fluorescence decay profiles were intensity independent for the intensity range studied (5 × 10 13 - 2 × 10 15 photon cm -2 per pulse). The apparent decrease in the relative fluorescence quantum yield and increase of the relative transmission with increasing excitation intensity is attributed to the combined effects of ground state depletion and upper excited state absorption. Evidence suggests that exciton annihilation is absent within isolated β subunits.

Structural, compositional, mechanical characterization and biological assessment of bovine-derived hydroxyapatite coatings reinforced with MgF2 or MgO for implants functionalization.

PubMed

Mihailescu, Natalia; Stan, G E; Duta, L; Chifiriuc, Mariana Carmen; Bleotu, Coralia; Sopronyi, M; Luculescu, C; Oktar, F N; Mihailescu, I N

2016-02-01

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a consecrated biomaterial for bone reconstruction. In the form of thin films deposited by pulsed laser technologies, it can be used to cover metallic implants aiming to increase biocompatibility and osseointegration rate. HA of animal origin (bovine, BHA) reinforced with MgF2 (2wt.%) or MgO (5wt.%) were used for deposition of thin coatings with improved adherence, biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity. For pulsed laser deposition experiments, a KrF* (λ=248nm, τFWHM≤25ns) excimer laser source was used. The deposited structures were characterized from a physical-chemical point of view by X-Ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy in top- and cross-view modes, Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy and Pull-out adherence tests. The microbiological assay using the HEp-2 cell line revealed that all target materials and deposited thin films are non-cytotoxic. We conducted tests on three strains isolated from patients with dental implants failure, i.e. Microccocus sp., Enterobacter sp. and Candida albicans sp. The most significant anti-biofilm effect against Microcococcus sp. strain, at 72h, was obtained in the presence of BHA:MgO thin films. For Enterobacter sp. strain a superior antimicrobial activity at 72h was noticed, in respect with simple BHA or Ti control. The enhanced antimicrobial performances, correlated with good cytocompatibility and mechanical properties recommend these biomaterials as an alternative to synthetic HA for the fabrication of reliable implant coatings for dentistry and other applications. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of Spirulina on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Ovarian Toxicity in Rats: Biochemical and Histomorphometric Evaluation of the Ovary

PubMed Central

Yener, Nese Arzu; Sinanoglu, Orhun; Ilter, Erdin; Celik, Aygen; Sezgin, Gulbuz; Midi, Ahmet; Aksungar, Fehime

2013-01-01

Cyclophosphamide (Cyc) is known to cause ovotoxicity and infertility in women. Our aim is to investigate the possible ovotoxic effects of Cyc and possible antioxidant and protective effects of blue-green algae, Spirulina (Sp), in rat ovaries. Eighteen rats were given: group I (n = 6, control); group II (n = 6, CP), a single dose Cyc; group III (n = 6, Sp+Cyc), 7 days Sp+single dose Cyc. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities are assessed biochemically. Normal and atretic primordial and primary follicle counts for all sections obtained for each ovary are calculated. Mean number of follicle counts for each group are compared. In Sp+Cyc group, tissue MDA levels were significantly lower than those in the CP and higher than those in the C group (CP > Sp+Cyc > C). Tissue SOD activity was significantly higher in Sp+Cyc group than that in the CP group and lower than that in the C group (C > Sp+Cyc > C). No statistically significant difference was found between the ovarian CAT activities in any group. Histomorphometrically, there was also no significant difference between the mean numbers of normal and atretic small follicle counts. Our results suggest that single dose Cyc has adverse effects on oxidant status of the ovaries and Sp has protective effects in Cyc-induced ovotoxicity. PMID:23762559

A Hybrid Wavelet-Based Method for the Peak Detection of Photoplethysmography Signals.

PubMed

Li, Suyi; Jiang, Shanqing; Jiang, Shan; Wu, Jiang; Xiong, Wenji; Diao, Shu

2017-01-01

The noninvasive peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) and the pulse rate can be extracted from photoplethysmography (PPG) signals. However, the accuracy of the extraction is directly affected by the quality of the signal obtained and the peak of the signal identified; therefore, a hybrid wavelet-based method is proposed in this study. Firstly, we suppressed the partial motion artifacts and corrected the baseline drift by using a wavelet method based on the principle of wavelet multiresolution. And then, we designed a quadratic spline wavelet modulus maximum algorithm to identify the PPG peaks automatically. To evaluate this hybrid method, a reflective pulse oximeter was used to acquire ten subjects' PPG signals under sitting, raising hand, and gently walking postures, and the peak recognition results on the raw signal and on the corrected signal were compared, respectively. The results showed that the hybrid method not only corrected the morphologies of the signal well but also optimized the peaks identification quality, subsequently elevating the measurement accuracy of SpO 2 and the pulse rate. As a result, our hybrid wavelet-based method profoundly optimized the evaluation of respiratory function and heart rate variability analysis.

Automatic classification of apnea/hypopnea events through sleep/wake states and severity of SDB from a pulse oximeter.

PubMed

Park, Jong-Uk; Lee, Hyo-Ki; Lee, Junghun; Urtnasan, Erdenebayar; Kim, Hojoong; Lee, Kyoung-Joung

2015-09-01

This study proposes a method of automatically classifying sleep apnea/hypopnea events based on sleep states and the severity of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) using photoplethysmogram (PPG) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) signals acquired from a pulse oximeter. The PPG was used to classify sleep state, while the severity of SDB was estimated by detecting events of SpO2 oxygen desaturation. Furthermore, we classified sleep apnea/hypopnea events by applying different categorisations according to the severity of SDB based on a support vector machine. The classification results showed sensitivity performances and positivity predictive values of 74.2% and 87.5% for apnea, 87.5% and 63.4% for hypopnea, and 92.4% and 92.8% for apnea + hypopnea, respectively. These results represent better or comparable outcomes compared to those of previous studies. In addition, our classification method reliably detected sleep apnea/hypopnea events in all patient groups without bias in particular patient groups when our algorithm was applied to a variety of patient groups. Therefore, this method has the potential to diagnose SDB more reliably and conveniently using a pulse oximeter.

A Hybrid Wavelet-Based Method for the Peak Detection of Photoplethysmography Signals

PubMed Central

Jiang, Shanqing; Jiang, Shan; Wu, Jiang; Xiong, Wenji

2017-01-01

The noninvasive peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and the pulse rate can be extracted from photoplethysmography (PPG) signals. However, the accuracy of the extraction is directly affected by the quality of the signal obtained and the peak of the signal identified; therefore, a hybrid wavelet-based method is proposed in this study. Firstly, we suppressed the partial motion artifacts and corrected the baseline drift by using a wavelet method based on the principle of wavelet multiresolution. And then, we designed a quadratic spline wavelet modulus maximum algorithm to identify the PPG peaks automatically. To evaluate this hybrid method, a reflective pulse oximeter was used to acquire ten subjects' PPG signals under sitting, raising hand, and gently walking postures, and the peak recognition results on the raw signal and on the corrected signal were compared, respectively. The results showed that the hybrid method not only corrected the morphologies of the signal well but also optimized the peaks identification quality, subsequently elevating the measurement accuracy of SpO2 and the pulse rate. As a result, our hybrid wavelet-based method profoundly optimized the evaluation of respiratory function and heart rate variability analysis. PMID:29250135

A Conversion Formula for Comparing Pulse Oximeter Desaturation Rates Obtained with Different Averaging Times

PubMed Central

Vagedes, Jan; Bialkowski, Anja; Wiechers, Cornelia; Poets, Christian F.; Dietz, Klaus

2014-01-01

Objective The number of desaturations determined in recordings of pulse oximeter saturation (SpO2) primarily depends on the time over which values are averaged. As the averaging time in pulse oximeters is not standardized, it varies considerably between centers. To make SpO2 data comparable, it is thus desirable to have a formula that allows conversion between desaturation rates obtained using different averaging times for various desaturation levels and minimal durations. Methods Oxygen saturation was measured for 170 hours in 12 preterm infants with a mean number of 65 desaturations <90% per hour of arbitrary duration by using a pulse oximeter in a 2–4 s averaging mode. Using 7 different averaging times between 3 and 16 seconds, the raw red-to-infrared data were reprocessed to determine the number of desaturations (D). The whole procedure was carried out for 7 different minimal desaturation durations (≥1, ≥5, ≥10, ≥15, ≥20, ≥25, ≥30 s) below SpO2 threshold values of 80%, 85% or 90% to finally reach a conversion formula. The formula was validated by splitting the infants into two groups of six children each and using one group each as a training set and the other one as a test set. Results Based on the linear relationship found between the logarithm of the desaturation rate and the logarithm of the averaging time, the conversion formula is: D2 = D1 (T2/T1)c, where D2 is the desaturation rate for the desired averaging time T2, and D1 is the desaturation rate for the original averaging time T1, with the exponent c depending on the desaturation threshold and the minimal desaturation duration. The median error when applying this formula was 2.6%. Conclusion This formula enables the conversion of desaturation rates between different averaging times for various desaturation thresholds and minimal desaturation durations. PMID:24489887

A conversion formula for comparing pulse oximeter desaturation rates obtained with different averaging times.

PubMed

Vagedes, Jan; Bialkowski, Anja; Wiechers, Cornelia; Poets, Christian F; Dietz, Klaus

2014-01-01

The number of desaturations determined in recordings of pulse oximeter saturation (SpO2) primarily depends on the time over which values are averaged. As the averaging time in pulse oximeters is not standardized, it varies considerably between centers. To make SpO2 data comparable, it is thus desirable to have a formula that allows conversion between desaturation rates obtained using different averaging times for various desaturation levels and minimal durations. Oxygen saturation was measured for 170 hours in 12 preterm infants with a mean number of 65 desaturations <90% per hour of arbitrary duration by using a pulse oximeter in a 2-4 s averaging mode. Using 7 different averaging times between 3 and 16 seconds, the raw red-to-infrared data were reprocessed to determine the number of desaturations (D). The whole procedure was carried out for 7 different minimal desaturation durations (≥ 1, ≥ 5, ≥ 10, ≥ 15, ≥ 20, ≥ 25, ≥ 30 s) below SpO2 threshold values of 80%, 85% or 90% to finally reach a conversion formula. The formula was validated by splitting the infants into two groups of six children each and using one group each as a training set and the other one as a test set. Based on the linear relationship found between the logarithm of the desaturation rate and the logarithm of the averaging time, the conversion formula is: D2 = D1 (T2/T1)(c), where D2 is the desaturation rate for the desired averaging time T2, and D1 is the desaturation rate for the original averaging time T1, with the exponent c depending on the desaturation threshold and the minimal desaturation duration. The median error when applying this formula was 2.6%. This formula enables the conversion of desaturation rates between different averaging times for various desaturation thresholds and minimal desaturation durations.

Selective Photothermolysis to target Sebaceous Glands: Theoretical Estimation of Parameters and Preliminary Results Using a Free Electron Laser

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fernanda Sakamoto, Apostolos Doukas, William Farinelli, Zeina Tannous, Michelle D. Shinn, Stephen Benson, Gwyn P. Williams, H. Dylla, Richard Anderson

2011-12-01

The success of permanent laser hair removal suggests that selective photothermolysis (SP) of sebaceous glands, another part of hair follicles, may also have merit. About 30% of sebum consists of fats with copious CH2 bond content. SP was studied in vitro, using free electron laser (FEL) pulses at an infrared CH2 vibrational absorption wavelength band. Absorption spectra of natural and artificially prepared sebum were measured from 200 nm to 3000 nm, to determine wavelengths potentially able to target sebaceous glands. The Jefferson National Accelerator superconducting FEL was used to measure photothermal excitation of aqueous gels, artificial sebum, pig skin, humanmore » scalp and forehead skin (sebaceous sites). In vitro skin samples were exposed to FEL pulses from 1620 to 1720 nm, spot diameter 7-9.5 mm with exposure through a cold 4C sapphire window in contact with the skin. Exposed and control tissue samples were stained using H and E, and nitroblue tetrazolium chloride staining (NBTC) was used to detect thermal denaturation. Natural and artificial sebum both had absorption peaks near 1210, 1728, 1760, 2306 and 2346 nm. Laser-induced heating of artificial sebum was approximately twice that of water at 1710 and 1720 nm, and about 1.5x higher in human sebaceous glands than in water. Thermal camera imaging showed transient focal heating near sebaceous hair follicles. Histologically, skin samples exposed to {approx}1700 nm, {approx}100-125 ms pulses showed evidence of selective thermal damage to sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands were positive for NBTC staining, without evidence of selective loss in samples exposed to the laser. Epidermis was undamaged in all samples. Conclusions: SP of sebaceous glands appears to be feasible. Potentially, optical pulses at {approx}1720 nm or {approx}1210 nm delivered with large beam diameter and appropriate skin cooling in approximately 0.1 s may provide an alternative treatment for acne.« less

Characterization of sp3 bond content of carbon films deposited by high power gas injection magnetron sputtering method by UV and VIS Raman spectroscopy.

PubMed

Zdunek, Krzysztof; Chodun, Rafał; Wicher, Bartosz; Nowakowska-Langier, Katarzyna; Okrasa, Sebastian

2018-04-05

This paper presents the results of investigations of carbon films deposited by a modified version of the magnetron sputtering method - HiPGIMS (High Power Gas Injection Magnetron Sputtering). In this experiment, the magnetron system with inversely polarized electrodes (sputtered cathode at ground potential and positively biased, spatially separated anode) was used. This arrangement allowed us to conduct the experiment using voltages ranging from 1 to 2kV and a power supply system equipped with 25/50μF capacitor battery. Carbon films were investigated by VIS/UV Raman spectroscopy. Sp 3 /sp 2 bonding ratio was evaluated basing the elementary components of registered spectra. Our investigation showed that sp 3 bond content increases with discharge power but up to specific value only. In extreme conditions of generating plasma impulses, we detected a reversed relation of the sp 3 /sp 2 ratio. In our opinion, a energy of plasma pulse favors nucleation of a sp 3 phase because of a relatively higher ionization state but in extreme cases the influence of energy is reversed. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Method and device for measuring single-shot transient signals

DOEpatents

Yin, Yan

2004-05-18

Methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for measuring multi-channel single-shot transient signals. A signal acquisition unit receives one or more single-shot pulses from a multi-channel source. An optical-fiber recirculating loop reproduces the one or more received single-shot optical pulses to form a first multi-channel pulse train for circulation in the recirculating loop, and a second multi-channel pulse train for display on a display device. The optical-fiber recirculating loop also optically amplifies the first circulating pulse train to compensate for signal losses and performs optical multi-channel noise filtration.

Advanced Pulse Oximetry System for Remote Monitoring and Management

PubMed Central

Pak, Ju Geon; Park, Kee Hyun

2012-01-01

Pulse oximetry data such as saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO2) and pulse rate are vital signals for early diagnosis of heart disease. Therefore, various pulse oximeters have been developed continuously. However, some of the existing pulse oximeters are not equipped with communication capabilities, and consequently, the continuous monitoring of patient health is restricted. Moreover, even though certain oximeters have been built as network models, they focus on exchanging only pulse oximetry data, and they do not provide sufficient device management functions. In this paper, we propose an advanced pulse oximetry system for remote monitoring and management. The system consists of a networked pulse oximeter and a personal monitoring server. The proposed pulse oximeter measures a patient's pulse oximetry data and transmits the data to the personal monitoring server. The personal monitoring server then analyzes the received data and displays the results to the patient. Furthermore, for device management purposes, operational errors that occur in the pulse oximeter are reported to the personal monitoring server, and the system configurations of the pulse oximeter, such as thresholds and measurement targets, are modified by the server. We verify that the proposed pulse oximetry system operates efficiently and that it is appropriate for monitoring and managing a pulse oximeter in real time. PMID:22933841

Advanced pulse oximetry system for remote monitoring and management.

PubMed

Pak, Ju Geon; Park, Kee Hyun

2012-01-01

Pulse oximetry data such as saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO(2)) and pulse rate are vital signals for early diagnosis of heart disease. Therefore, various pulse oximeters have been developed continuously. However, some of the existing pulse oximeters are not equipped with communication capabilities, and consequently, the continuous monitoring of patient health is restricted. Moreover, even though certain oximeters have been built as network models, they focus on exchanging only pulse oximetry data, and they do not provide sufficient device management functions. In this paper, we propose an advanced pulse oximetry system for remote monitoring and management. The system consists of a networked pulse oximeter and a personal monitoring server. The proposed pulse oximeter measures a patient's pulse oximetry data and transmits the data to the personal monitoring server. The personal monitoring server then analyzes the received data and displays the results to the patient. Furthermore, for device management purposes, operational errors that occur in the pulse oximeter are reported to the personal monitoring server, and the system configurations of the pulse oximeter, such as thresholds and measurement targets, are modified by the server. We verify that the proposed pulse oximetry system operates efficiently and that it is appropriate for monitoring and managing a pulse oximeter in real time.

A multiplexed electronic architecture for opto-electronic patch sensor to effectively monitor heart rate and oxygen saturation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Liangwen; Hu, Sijung; Alharbi, Samah; Blanos, Panagiotis

2018-02-01

To effectively capture human vital signs, a multi-wavelength optoelectronic patch sensor (MOEPS), together with a schematic architecture of electronics, was developed to overcome the drawbacks of present photoplethysmographic (PPG) sensors. To obtain a better performance of in vivo physiological measurement, the optimal illuminations, i.e., light emitting diodes (LEDs) in the MOEPS, whose wavelength is automatically adjusted to each specific subject, were selected to capture better PPG signals. A multiplexed electronic architecture has been well established to properly drive the MOEPS and effectively capture pulsatile waveforms at rest. The protocol was designed to investigate its performance with the participation of 11 healthy subjects aged between 18 and 30. The signals obtained from green (525nm) and orange (595nm) illuminations were used to extract heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SpO2%). These results were compared with data, simultaneously acquired, from a commercial ECG and a pulse oximeter. Considering the difficulty for current devices to attain the SpO2%, a new computing method, to obtain the value of SpO2%, is proposed depended on the green and orange wavelength illuminations. The values of SpO2% between the MOEPS and the commercial Pulse Oximeter devics showed that the results were in good agreement. The values of HR showed close correlation between commercial devices and the MOEPS (HR: r1=0.994(Green); r2=0.992(Orange); r3=0.975(Red); r4=0.990(IR)).

1.8  mJ, 3.5  kW single-frequency optical pulses at 1572  nm generated from an all-fiber MOPA system.

PubMed

Lee, Wangkuen; Geng, Jihong; Jiang, Shibin; Yu, Anthony W

2018-05-15

High-energy single-frequency optical pulses at 1572 nm were generated from an all-fiber MOPA system for atmospheric CO 2 LIDAR system application. We report the experimental demonstration of 1.8 mJ, a peak power of 3.5 kW at the pulse repetition of 2.5 kHz, as well as 1.3 mJ, a peak power of 2.5 kW at the pulse repetition of 7.5 kHz single-frequency optical pulses at 1572 nm using single-mode large-core polarization-maintaining Er-Yb co-doped silicate glass fiber amplifiers pumped at 976 nm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest pulse energy of single frequency at 1572 nm from an all-fiber amplifier system.

Residence at Moderate Versus Low Altitude Is Effective at Maintaining Higher Oxygen Saturation During Exercise and Reducing Acute Mountain Sickness Following Fast Ascent to 4559 m.

PubMed

Bernardi, Eva; Pomidori, Luca; Cavallari, Davide; Mandolesi, Gaia; Cogo, Annalisa

2017-06-01

To continuously monitor oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) by pulse oximeter and assess the development of acute mountain sickness (AMS) using the Lake Louise Score (LLS) during ascent from 1154 to 4559 m in 2 groups of subjects: 10 moderate-altitude residents (MAR; ≥1000-≤2500 m) and 34 low-altitude residents (LAR). MAR are reported to have a lower incidence of AMS during ascent to higher altitudes compared with LAR. Whether this is related to higher SpO 2 is still open to debate. Seventy subjects were recruited; 24-hour SpO 2 monitoring with finger pulse oximetry was performed. All subjects rode a cable car from 1154 to 3275 m and then climbed to 3647 m, where 60 subjects (LAR) overnighted. The second day, 34/60 LAR reached the highest altitude. Ten subjects who lived permanently at 1100 to 1400 m (MAR) climbed directly to 4559 m without an overnight stop. One LAR was excluded from the analysis because he performed a preacclimatization. We compared data of 10 MAR with data of 33 LAR who reached 4559 m. Two MAR had an LLS of 3, and 8 scored <3. Six LAR had an LLS of 3 to 4, 8 scored ≥5, and 19 scored <3. SpO 2 monitoring showed higher mean SpO 2 in MAR during ascent above 3600 m compared with LAR (MAR, 79±4% vs LAR, 76±5%; analysis of variance, P = .03). The results of this preliminary study suggest that residence at moderate altitude allows maintenance of higher SpO 2 and reduces risk of developing AMS during rapid ascent to higher altitude. Copyright © 2017 Wilderness Medical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Long-term monitoring of cardiorespiratory patterns in drug-resistant epilepsy.

PubMed

Goldenholz, Daniel M; Kuhn, Amanda; Austermuehle, Alison; Bachler, Martin; Mayer, Christopher; Wassertheurer, Siegfried; Inati, Sara K; Theodore, William H

2017-01-01

Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP) during inpatient electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring has been a rare but potentially preventable event, with associated cardiopulmonary markers. To date, no systematic evaluation of alarm settings for a continuous pulse oximeter (SpO 2 ) has been performed. In addition, evaluation of the interrelationship between the ictal and interictal states for cardiopulmonary measures has not been reported. Patients with epilepsy were monitored using video-EEG, SpO 2 , and electrocardiography (ECG). Alarm thresholds were tested systematically, balancing the number of false alarms with true seizure detections. Additional cardiopulmonary patterns were explored using automated ECG analysis software. One hundred ninety-three seizures (32 generalized) were evaluated from 45 patients (7,104 h recorded). Alarm thresholds of 80-86% SpO 2 detected 63-73% of all generalized convulsions and 20-28% of all focal seizures (81-94% of generalized and 25-36% of focal seizures when considering only evaluable data). These same thresholds resulted in 25-146 min between false alarms. The sequential probability of ictal SpO 2 revealed a potential common seizure termination pathway of desaturation. A statistical model of corrected QT intervals (QTc), heart rate (HR), and SpO 2 revealed close cardiopulmonary coupling ictally. Joint probability maps of QTc and SpO 2 demonstrated that many patients had baseline dysfunction in either cardiac, pulmonary, or both domains, and that ictally there was dissociation-some patients exhibited further dysfunction in one or both domains. Optimal selection of continuous pulse oximetry thresholds involves a tradeoff between seizure detection accuracy and false alarm frequency. Alarming at 86% for patients that tend to have fewer false alarms and at 80% for those who have more, would likely result in a reasonable tradeoff. The cardiopulmonary findings may lead to SUDEP biomarkers and early seizure termination therapies. Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 International League Against Epilepsy.

Demonstration of periodic nanostructure formation with less ablation by double-pulse laser irradiation on titanium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furukawa, Yuki; Sakata, Ryoichi; Konishi, Kazuki; Ono, Koki; Matsuoka, Shusaku; Watanabe, Kota; Inoue, Shunsuke; Hashida, Masaki; Sakabe, Shuji

2016-06-01

By pairing femtosecond laser pulses (duration ˜40 fs and central wavelength ˜810 nm) at an appropriate time interval, a laser-induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) is formed with much less ablation than one formed with a single pulse. On a titanium plate, a pair of laser pulses with fluences of 70 and 140 mJ/cm2 and a rather large time interval (>10 ps) creates a LIPSS with an interspace of 600 nm, the same as that formed by a single pulse of 210 mJ/cm2, while the double pulse ablates only 4 nm, a quarter of the ablation depth of a single pulse.

Time-resolved single-shot terahertz time-domain spectroscopy for ultrafast irreversible processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhai, Zhao-Hui; Zhong, Sen-Cheng; Li, Jun; Zhu, Li-Guo; Meng, Kun; Li, Jiang; Liu, Qiao; Peng, Qi-Xian; Li, Ze-Ren; Zhao, Jian-Heng

2016-09-01

Pulsed terahertz spectroscopy is suitable for spectroscopic diagnostics of ultrafast events. However, the study of irreversible or single shot ultrafast events requires ability to record transient properties at multiple time delays, i.e., time resolved at single shot level, which is not available currently. Here by angular multiplexing use of femtosecond laser pulses, we developed and demonstrated a time resolved, transient terahertz time domain spectroscopy technique, where burst mode THz pulses were generated and then detected in a single shot measurement manner. The burst mode THz pulses contain 2 sub-THz pulses, and the time gap between them is adjustable up to 1 ns with picosecond accuracy, thus it can be used to probe the single shot event at two different time delays. The system can detect the sub-THz pulses at 0.1 THz-2.5 THz range with signal to noise ratio (SNR) of ˜400 and spectrum resolution of 0.05 THz. System design was described here, and optimizations of single shot measurement of THz pulses were discussed in detail. Methods to improve SNR were also discussed in detail. A system application was demonstrated where pulsed THz signals at different time delays of the ultrafast process were successfully acquired within single shot measurement. This time resolved transient terahertz time domain spectroscopy technique provides a new diagnostic tool for irreversible or single shot ultrafast events where dynamic information can be extracted at terahertz range within one-shot experiment.

Time-resolved single-shot terahertz time-domain spectroscopy for ultrafast irreversible processes.

PubMed

Zhai, Zhao-Hui; Zhong, Sen-Cheng; Li, Jun; Zhu, Li-Guo; Meng, Kun; Li, Jiang; Liu, Qiao; Peng, Qi-Xian; Li, Ze-Ren; Zhao, Jian-Heng

2016-09-01

Pulsed terahertz spectroscopy is suitable for spectroscopic diagnostics of ultrafast events. However, the study of irreversible or single shot ultrafast events requires ability to record transient properties at multiple time delays, i.e., time resolved at single shot level, which is not available currently. Here by angular multiplexing use of femtosecond laser pulses, we developed and demonstrated a time resolved, transient terahertz time domain spectroscopy technique, where burst mode THz pulses were generated and then detected in a single shot measurement manner. The burst mode THz pulses contain 2 sub-THz pulses, and the time gap between them is adjustable up to 1 ns with picosecond accuracy, thus it can be used to probe the single shot event at two different time delays. The system can detect the sub-THz pulses at 0.1 THz-2.5 THz range with signal to noise ratio (SNR) of ∼400 and spectrum resolution of 0.05 THz. System design was described here, and optimizations of single shot measurement of THz pulses were discussed in detail. Methods to improve SNR were also discussed in detail. A system application was demonstrated where pulsed THz signals at different time delays of the ultrafast process were successfully acquired within single shot measurement. This time resolved transient terahertz time domain spectroscopy technique provides a new diagnostic tool for irreversible or single shot ultrafast events where dynamic information can be extracted at terahertz range within one-shot experiment.

Identifying individual sleep apnea/hypoapnea epochs using smartphone-based pulse oximetry.

PubMed

Garde, Ainara; Dekhordi, Parastoo; Ansermino, J Mark; Dumont, Guy A

2016-08-01

Sleep apnea, characterized by frequent pauses in breathing during sleep, poses a serious threat to the healthy growth and development of children. Polysomnography (PSG), the gold standard for sleep apnea diagnosis, is resource intensive and confined to sleep laboratories, thus reducing its accessibility. Pulse oximetry alone, providing blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and blood volume changes in tissue (PPG), has the potential to identify children with sleep apnea. Thus, we aim to develop a tool for at-home sleep apnea screening that provides a detailed and automated 30 sec epoch-by-epoch sleep apnea analysis. We propose to extract features characterizing pulse oximetry (SpO2 and pulse rate variability [PRV], a surrogate measure of heart rate variability) to create a multivariate logistic regression model that identifies epochs containing apnea/hypoapnea events. Overnight pulse oximetry was collected using a smartphone-based pulse oximeter, simultaneously with standard PSG from 160 children at the British Columbia Children's hospital. The sleep technician manually scored all apnea/hypoapnea events during the PSG study. Based on these scores we labeled each epoch as containing or not containing apnea/hypoapnea. We randomly divided the subjects into training data (40%), used to develop the model applying the LASSO method, and testing data (60%), used to validate the model. The developed model was assessed epoch-by-epoch for each subject. The test dataset had a median area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 81%; the model provided a median accuracy of 74% sensitivity of 75%, and specificity of 73% when using a risk threshold similar to the percentage of apnea/hypopnea epochs. Thus, providing a detailed epoch-by-epoch analysis with at-home pulse oximetry alone is feasible with accuracy, sensitivity and specificity values above 73% However, the performance might decrease when analyzing subjects with a low number of apnea/hypoapnea events.

Smart Oxygen Monitors to Diagnose and Treat Cardiopulmonary Injuries

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-10-01

pulse   oximeter  was  placed.  Oxygenation,  ventilator  and  hemodynamic  parameters  were  manually   recorded...VCO2]:   a. VCO2  can  be  automatically  measured   b. SpO2  sensor  can  use  Masimo   pulse   oximeter     4) The...did   not  reach  the  threshold  of  92%.  Approximately   40  min  into  testing,  the

FY12 Line-Supported Bio-Medical Initiative Program: Advanced Photoplethysmography (PPG) Sensors for Operational and Casualty Care Medicine

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-02-11

PPG) is measuring this size using light. A particular and ubiquitous application of PPG is in pulse oximetry, whereby the oxygenation saturation of...arterial blood is measured. Pulse oximetry requires absorption measurements of oxygenated (HbO2) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (Hb) at 940 nm (near-IR...relative quantity of Hb to HbO2 (i.e., SpO2) may be determined noninvasively. The advent of such a noninvasive arterial oxygen saturation measurement was a

Multi-functional laser fabrication of diamond (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salter, Patrick S.; Booth, Martin J.

2017-03-01

Ultrafast laser fabrication enables micro-structuring of diamond in 3D with a range of functionality. An ultrashort pulsed beam focused beneath the diamond surface induces structural modifications which are highly localised in three dimensions. At high pulse energy, the laser breaks down the diamond lattice at focus to form a graphitic phase. We demonstrate high resolution analysis of the structural changes revealing the graphitic phase to be formed of small clusters ( 100 nm in size) of amorphous sp2 bonded carbon accompanied by localised cracking of the diamond. When the laser focus is traced through the diamond, continuous graphitic wires are created which are electrically conductive. We have used such wires to fabricate large-area 3D radiation sensors which have been employed for the detection of high energy protons. Such graphitic wires have an associated stress field and a related localised modulation of the refractive index. We have recently written combinations of graphitic tracks in diamond to engineer stress fields to give a desired refractive index distribution and form an optical waveguide. Type III waveguides are demonstrated that allow guiding of both polarization states. We also show that by reducing the laser pulse energy, it is possible to avoid complete breakdown of the diamond lattice and simply introduce an ensemble of vacancies within the focal volume. This can be used to create single coherent NV centres in diamond isolated in 3D. All these processes are improved by processing at high numerical aperture (NA), for which adaptive optics aberration correction is essential.

Three key regimes of single pulse generation per round trip of all-normal-dispersion fiber lasers mode-locked with nonlinear polarization rotation.

PubMed

Smirnov, Sergey; Kobtsev, Sergey; Kukarin, Sergey; Ivanenko, Aleksey

2012-11-19

We show experimentally and numerically new transient lasing regime between stable single-pulse generation and noise-like generation. We characterize qualitatively all three regimes of single pulse generation per round-trip of all-normal-dispersion fiber lasers mode-locked due to effect of nonlinear polarization evolution. We study spectral and temporal features of pulses produced in all three regimes as well as compressibility of such pulses. Simple criteria are proposed to identify lasing regime in experiment.

Ablation of film stacks in solar cell fabrication processes

DOEpatents

Harley, Gabriel; Kim, Taeseok; Cousins, Peter John

2013-04-02

A dielectric film stack of a solar cell is ablated using a laser. The dielectric film stack includes a layer that is absorptive in a wavelength of operation of the laser source. The laser source, which fires laser pulses at a pulse repetition rate, is configured to ablate the film stack to expose an underlying layer of material. The laser source may be configured to fire a burst of two laser pulses or a single temporally asymmetric laser pulse within a single pulse repetition to achieve complete ablation in a single step.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Gas-phase detection of c-C3H3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, D.; Doney, K. D.; Linnartz, H.

2017-03-01

The experimental setup has been described in detail by Zhao et al. (2013CPL...565..132Z, 2014JMoSp.296....1Z). In brief, the c-C3H3+ cations are generated by discharging a propyne (C3H4):He ~ 1:200 gas mixture in a multi-layer slit discharge nozzle (Motylewski & Linnartz 1999RScI...70.1305M) in combination with a pulsed valve (General Valve, Series 9,2 mm orifice). The gas mixture is expanded with a backing pressure of ~7 bar through a 300umx3cm slit into a vacuum chamber. A pulsed negative high voltage (-600 V/300 mA) with a ~600 us duration is found to be optimum for c-C3H3+ production, is applied to the expanding gas mixture, and is set to coincide with the expanding gas pulse (~800 us). Continuous-wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy (cw-CRDS) is used to record spectra in direct absorption. The axis of the optical cavity is aligned parallel to and ~2 mm downstream of the slit nozzle throat. A single-mode cw optical parametric oscillator (Aculight), operating at ~3.15 um with a bandwidth <5x10-5cm-1, is employed as tunable IR light source. A hardware-based (boxcar integrator) multi-trigger and timing scheme recently reported by Zhao et al. (2013CPL...565..132Z) is used to apply cw-CRDS to the pulsed plasma. In the present experiment, typical ring-down time values are ~8-10 us, corresponding to a detection sensitivity, i.e., noise equivalent absorption, of up to ~2x10-7 per centimeter for the 3 cm long plasma jet. (1 data file).

A single-frequency double-pulse Ho:YLF laser for CO2-lidar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kucirek, P.; Meissner, A.; Eiselt, P.; Höfer, M.; Hoffmann, D.

2016-03-01

A single-frequency q-switched Ho:YLF laser oscillator with a bow-tie ring resonator, specifically designed for highspectral stability, is reported. It is pumped with a dedicated Tm:YLF laser at 1.9 μm. The ramp-and-fire method with a DFB-diode laser as a reference is employed for generating single-frequency emission at 2051 nm. The laser is tested with different operating modes, including cw-pumping at different pulse repetition frequencies and gain-switched pumping. The standard deviation of the emission wavelength of the laser pulses is measured with the heterodyne technique at the different operating modes. Its dependence on the single-pass gain in the crystal and on the cavity finesse is investigated. At specific operating points the spectral stability of the laser pulses is 1.5 MHz (rms over 10 s). Under gain-switched pumping with 20% duty cycle and 2 W of average pump power, stable single-frequency pulse pairs with a temporal separation of 580 μs are produced at a repetition rate of 50 Hz. The measured pulse energy is 2 mJ (<2 % rms error on the pulse energy over 10 s) and the measured pulse duration is approx. 20 ns for each of the two pulses in the burst.

Plasma Membrane Permeabilization by Trains of Ultrashort Electric Pulses

PubMed Central

Ibey, Bennett L.; Mixon, Dustin G.; Payne, Jason A.; Bowman, Angela; Sickendick, Karl; Wilmink, Gerald J.; Roach, W. Patrick; Pakhomov, Andrei G.

2010-01-01

Ultrashort electric pulses (USEP) cause long-lasting increase of cell membrane electrical conductance, and that a single USEP increased cell membrane electrical conductance proportionally to the absorbed dose (AD) with a threshold of about 10 mJ/g. The present study extends quantification of the membrane permeabilization effect to multiple USEP and employed a more accurate protocol that identified USEP effect as the difference between post- and pre-exposure conductance values (Δg) in individual cells. We showed that Δg can be increased by either increasing the number of pulses at a constant E-field, or by increasing the E-field at a constant number of pulses. For 60-ns pulses, an E-field threshold of 6 kV/cm for a single pulse was lowered to less than 1.7 kV/cm by applying 100-pulse or longer trains. However, the reduction of the E-field threshold was only achieved at the expense of a higher AD compared to a single pulse exposure. Furthermore, the effect of multiple pulses was not fully determined by AD, suggesting that cells permeabilized by the first pulse(s) in the train become less vulnerable to subsequent pulses. This explanation was corroborated by a model that treated multiple-pulse exposures as a series of single-pulse exposures and assumed an exponential decline of cell susceptibility to USEP as Δg increased after each pulse during the course of the train. PMID:20171148

Ultra-high-speed optical coherence tomography with a stretched pulse supercontinuum source.

PubMed

Moon, Sucbei; Kim, Dug Young

2006-11-27

We introduce a new high-speed Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) scheme based on a stretched pulse supercontinuum source. A wide-band short pulse of a supercontinuum source of which output spectrum spanned a wavelength range from 1,200 nm to 1,550 nm was stretched to a long pulse of 70-ns duration by using a dispersive fiber due to the group-velocity dispersion, and it was used directly as frequency-swept light for FD-OCT. The OCT spectral interferogram was acquired in the time domain and converted into the spectral domain by the pre-calibrated time-to-wavelength relation. Using this stretched-pulse OCT (SP-OCT) scheme, we have demonstrated an ultrahigh-speed axial-line scanning rate of 5 MHz. The axial resolution of 8 microm was achieved without re-calibration of the sweep characteristic owing to the passive nature of the frequency-sweeping mechanism.

Demonstration of periodic nanostructure formation with less ablation by double-pulse laser irradiation on titanium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Furukawa, Yuki; Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8502; Advanced Research Center for Beam Science, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011

By pairing femtosecond laser pulses (duration ∼40 fs and central wavelength ∼810 nm) at an appropriate time interval, a laser-induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) is formed with much less ablation than one formed with a single pulse. On a titanium plate, a pair of laser pulses with fluences of 70 and 140 mJ/cm{sup 2} and a rather large time interval (>10 ps) creates a LIPSS with an interspace of 600 nm, the same as that formed by a single pulse of 210 mJ/cm{sup 2}, while the double pulse ablates only 4 nm, a quarter of the ablation depth of a single pulse.

Continuous monitoring of haemoglobin concentration after in-vivo adjustment in patients undergoing surgery with blood loss.

PubMed

Frasca, D; Mounios, H; Giraud, B; Boisson, M; Debaene, B; Mimoz, O

2015-07-01

Non-invasive monitoring of haemoglobin concentration provides real-time measurement of haemoglobin concentration (SpHb) using multi-wavelength pulse co-oximetry. We hypothesised that in-vivo adjustment using the mean of three haemoglobinometer (HemoCue®) measurements from an arterial blood sample at the first SpHb measurement (HCueART) would increase the accuracy of the monitor. The study included 41 adults for a total of 173 measurements of haemoglobin concentration. In-vivo adjusted SpHb was automatically calculated by the following formula: in-vivo adjusted SpHb = unadjusted SpHb - (SpHb - HCueART). The accuracy of in-vivo adjusted SpHb was compared with SpHb retrospectively adjusted using the same formula, except for haemoglobin level which was assessed at the central laboratory and then compared with all other available invasive methods of haemoglobin measurement (co-oximetry, HbSAT; arterial HemoCue, HCueART; capillary HemoCue, HCueCAP). Compared with laboratory measurement of haemoglobin concentration, bias (precision) for unadjusted SpHb, in-vivo adjusted SpHb, retrospectively adjusted SpHb, HbSAT, HCueART and HCueCAP were -0.4 (1.4), -0.3 (1.1), -0.3 (1.1), -0.6 (0.7), 0.0 (0.4) and -0.5 (1.2) g.dl(-1) , respectively. In-vivo adjustment of SpHb values using the mean of three arterial HemoCue measurements improved the accuracy of the device similar to those observed after a retrospective adjustment using central laboratory haemoglobin level. © 2015 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.

MULTICHANNEL ANALYZER

DOEpatents

Kelley, G.G.

1959-11-10

A multichannel pulse analyzer having several window amplifiers, each amplifier serving one group of channels, with a single fast pulse-lengthener and a single novel interrogation circuit serving all channels is described. A pulse followed too closely timewise by another pulse is disregarded by the interrogation circuit to prevent errors due to pulse pileup. The window amplifiers are connected to the pulse lengthener output, rather than the linear amplifier output, so need not have the fast response characteristic formerly required.

Enhanced Pulse Compression in Nonlinear Fiber by a WDM Optical Pulse

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yeh, C.; Bergman, L.

1997-01-01

A new way to compress an optical pulse in a single-mode fiber is presented in this paper. By the use of the cross phase modulation (CPM) effect caused by the nonlinearity of the optical fiber, a shepherd pulse propagating on a different wavelength beam in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) single-mode fiber system can be used to enhance the pulse compression of a co-propagating primary pulse.

Periodic metallo-dielectric structure in diamond.

PubMed

Shimizu, M; Shimotsuma, Y; Sakakura, M; Yuasa, T; Homma, H; Minowa, Y; Tanaka, K; Miura, K; Hirao, K

2009-01-05

Intense ultrashort light pulses induce three dimensional localized phase transformation of diamond. Photoinduced amorphous structures have electrical conducting properties of a maximum of 64 S/m based on a localized transition from sp(3) to sp(2) in diamond. The laser parameters of fluence and scanning speed affect the resultant electrical conductivities due to recrystallization and multi-filamentation phenomena. We demonstrate that the laser-processed diamond with the periodic cylinder arrays have the characteristic transmission properties in terahertz region, which are good agreement with theoretical calculations. The fabricated periodic structures act as metallo-dielectric photonic crystal.

High resolution structural characterisation of laser-induced defect clusters inside diamond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salter, Patrick S.; Booth, Martin J.; Courvoisier, Arnaud; Moran, David A. J.; MacLaren, Donald A.

2017-08-01

Laser writing with ultrashort pulses provides a potential route for the manufacture of three-dimensional wires, waveguides, and defects within diamond. We present a transmission electron microscopy study of the intrinsic structure of the laser modifications and reveal a complex distribution of defects. Electron energy loss spectroscopy indicates that the majority of the irradiated region remains as sp3 bonded diamond. Electrically conductive paths are attributed to the formation of multiple nano-scale, sp2-bonded graphitic wires and a network of strain-relieving micro-cracks.

Growth and enzymological characteristics of a pink-pigmented facultative methylotroph Methylobacterium sp. MB1.

PubMed

Baev, M V; Kuznetsov, E V; Skladnev, D A; Govorukhina, N I; Sterkin, V E; Tsygankov, Y D

1992-01-01

Growth characteristics of batch and continuous cultures of the pink facultative methylotroph Methylobacterium sp. MB1 were determined. The response of a chemostat culture to a pulse increase of methanol concentration was studied. Malate, succinate and oxaloacetate additions to the methanol-supplemented medium decreased batch culture growth inhibition by methanol. The carotenoid content in cells grown in a chemostat decreased with increasing growth rate. The key enzyme activities of C1-metabolism were measured in a chemostat culture at different dilution rates.

Single and Multi-Pulse Low-Energy Conical Theta Pinch Inductive Pulsed Plasma Thruster Performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hallock, A. K.; Martin, A. K.; Polzin, K. A.; Kimberlin, A. C.; Eskridge, R. H.

2013-01-01

Impulse bits produced by conical theta-pinch inductive pulsed plasma thrusters possessing cone angles of 20deg, 38deg, and 60deg, were quantified for 500J/pulse operation by direct measurement using a hanging-pendulum thrust stand. All three cone angles were tested in single-pulse mode, with the 38deg model producing the highest impulse bits at roughly 1 mN-s operating on both argon and xenon propellants. A capacitor charging system, assembled to support repetitively-pulsed thruster operation, permitted testing of the 38deg thruster at a repetition-rate of 5 Hz at power levels of 0.9, 1.6, and 2.5 kW. The average thrust measured during multiple-pulse operation exceeded the value obtained when the single-pulse impulse bit is multiplied by the repetition rate.

Measurement of splanchnic photoplethysmographic signals using a new reflectance fiber optic sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hickey, Michelle; Samuels, Neal; Randive, Nilesh; Langford, Richard M.; Kyriacou, Panayiotis A.

2010-03-01

Splanchnic organs are particularly vulnerable to hypoperfusion. Currently, there is no technique that allows for the continuous estimation of splanchnic blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). As a preliminary to developing a suitable splanchnic SpO2 sensor, a new reflectance fiber optic photoplethysmographic (PPG) sensor and processing system are developed. An experimental procedure to examine the effect of fiber source detector separation distance on acquired PPG signals is carried out before finalizing the sensor design. PPG signals are acquired from four volunteers for separation distances of 1 to 8 mm. The separation range of 3 to 6 mm provides the best quality PPG signals with large amplitudes and the highest signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Preliminary calculation of SpO2 shows that distances of 3 and 4 mm provide the most realistic values. Therefore, it is suggested that the separation distance in the design of a fiber optic reflectance pulse oximeter be in the range of 3 to 4 mm. Preliminary PPG signals from various splanchnic organs and the periphery are obtained from six anaesthetized patients. The normalized amplitudes of the splanchnic PPGs are, on average, approximately the same as those obtained simultaneously from the periphery. These observations suggest that fiber optic pulse oximetry may be a valid monitoring technique for splanchnic organs.

Accuracy of continuous noninvasive hemoglobin monitoring for the prediction of blood transfusions in trauma patients.

PubMed

Galvagno, Samuel M; Hu, Peter; Yang, Shiming; Gao, Cheng; Hanna, David; Shackelford, Stacy; Mackenzie, Colin

2015-12-01

Early detection of hemorrhagic shock is required to facilitate prompt coordination of blood component therapy delivery to the bedside and to expedite performance of lifesaving interventions. Standard physical findings and vital signs are difficult to measure during the acute resuscitation stage, and these measures are often inaccurate until patients deteriorate to a state of decompensated shock. The aim of this study is to examine a severely injured trauma patient population to determine whether a noninvasive SpHb monitor can predict the need for urgent blood transfusion (universal donor or additional urgent blood transfusion) during the first 12 h of trauma patient resuscitation. We hypothesize that trends in continuous SpHb, combined with easily derived patient-specific factors, can identify the immediate need for transfusion in trauma patients. Subjects were enrolled if directly admitted to the trauma center, >17 years of age, and with a shock index (heart rate/systolic blood pressure) >0.62. Upon admission, a Masimo Radical-7 co-oximeter sensor (Masimo Corporation, Irvine, CA) was applied, providing measurement of continuous non-invasive hemoglobin (SpHb) levels. Blood was drawn and hemoglobin concentration analyzed and conventional pulse oximetry photopletysmograph signals were continuously recorded. Demographic information and both prehospital and admission vital signs were collected. The primary outcome was transfusion of at least one unit of packed red blood cells within 24 h of admission. Eight regression models (C1-C8) were evaluated for the prediction of blood use by comparing area under receiver operating curve (AUROC) at different time intervals after admission. 711 subjects had continuous vital signs waveforms available, to include heart rate (HR), SpHb and SpO2 trends. When SpHb was monitored for 15 min, SpHb did not increase AUROC for prediction of transfusion. The highest ROC was recorded for model C8 (age, sex, prehospital shock index, admission HR, SpHb and SpO2) for the prediction of blood products within the first 3 h of admission. When data from 15 min of continuous monitoring were analyzed, significant improvement in AUROC occurred as more variables were added to the model; however, the addition of SpHb to any of the models did not improve AUROC significantly for prediction of blood use within the first 3 h of admission in comparison to analysis of conventional oximetry features. The results demonstrate that SpHb monitoring, accompanied by continuous vital signs data and adjusted for age and sex, has good accuracy for the prediction of need for transfusion; however, as an independent variable, SpHb did not enhance predictive models in comparison to use of features extracted from conventional pulse oximetry. Nor was shock index better than conventional oximetry at discriminating hemorrhaging and prediction of casualties receiving blood. In this population of trauma patients, noninvasive SpHb monitoring, including both trends and absolute values, did not enhance the ability to predict the need for blood transfusion.

Single- and multiple-pulse noncoherent detection statistics associated with partially developed speckle.

PubMed

Osche, G R

2000-08-20

Single- and multiple-pulse detection statistics are presented for aperture-averaged direct detection optical receivers operating against partially developed speckle fields. A partially developed speckle field arises when the probability density function of the received intensity does not follow negative exponential statistics. The case of interest here is the target surface that exhibits diffuse as well as specular components in the scattered radiation. An approximate expression is derived for the integrated intensity at the aperture, which leads to single- and multiple-pulse discrete probability density functions for the case of a Poisson signal in Poisson noise with an additive coherent component. In the absence of noise, the single-pulse discrete density function is shown to reduce to a generalized negative binomial distribution. The radar concept of integration loss is discussed in the context of direct detection optical systems where it is shown that, given an appropriate set of system parameters, multiple-pulse processing can be more efficient than single-pulse processing over a finite range of the integration parameter n.

Monopodial and sympodial branching architecture in cotton is differentially regulated by the Gossypium hirsutum SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS and SELF-PRUNING orthologs.

PubMed

McGarry, Roisin C; Prewitt, Sarah F; Culpepper, Samantha; Eshed, Yuval; Lifschitz, Eliezer; Ayre, Brian G

2016-10-01

Domestication of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) converted it from a lanky photoperiodic perennial to a day-neutral annual row-crop. Residual perennial traits, however, complicate irrigation and crop management, and more determinate architectures are desired. Cotton simultaneously maintains robust monopodial indeterminate shoots and sympodial determinate shoots. We questioned if and how the FLOWERING LOCUS T/SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS (SFT)-like and TERMINAL FLOWER1/SELF-PRUNING (SP)-like genes control the balance of monopodial and sympodial growth in a woody perennial with complex growth habit. Virus-based manipulation of GhSP and GhSFT expression enabled unprecedented functional analysis of cotton development. GhSP maintains growth in all apices; in its absence, both monopodial and sympodial branch systems terminate precociously. GhSFT encodes a florigenic signal stimulating rapid onset of sympodial branching and flowering in side shoots of wild photoperiodic and modern day-neutral accessions. High florigen concentrations did not alter monopodial apices, implying that once a cotton apex is SP-determined, it cannot be reset by florigen. GhSP is also essential to establish and maintain cambial activity. Dynamic changes in GhSFT and GhSP levels navigate meristems between monopodial and sympodial programs in a single plant. SFT and SP influenced cotton domestication and are ideal targets for further agricultural optimization. © 2016 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2016 New Phytologist Trust.

Single-bunch synchrotron shutter

DOEpatents

Norris, James R.; Tang, Jau-Huei; Chen, Lin; Thurnauer, Marion

1993-01-01

An apparatus for selecting a single synchrotron pulse from the millions of pulses provided per second from a synchrotron source includes a rotating spindle located in the path of the synchrotron pulses. The spindle has multiple faces of a highly reflective surface, and having a frequency of rotation f. A shutter is spaced from the spindle by a radius r, and has an open position and a closed position. The pulses from the synchrotron are reflected off the spindle to the shutter such that the speed s of the pulses at the shutter is governed by: s=4.times..pi..times.r.times.f. such that a single pulse is selected for transmission through an open position of the shutter.

High single-spatial-mode pulsed power from 980 nm emitting diode lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hempel, Martin; Tomm, Jens W.; Elsaesser, Thomas; Bettiati, Mauro

2012-11-01

Single-spatial-mode pulsed powers as high as 13 W and 20 W in 150 and 50 ns pulses, respectively, are reported for 980 nm emitting lasers. In terms of energy, single-spatial-mode values of up to 2 μJ within 150 ns pulses are shown. In this high-power pulsed operation, the devices shield themselves from facet degradation, being the main degradation source in continuous wave (cw) operation. Our results pave the way towards additional applications while employing available standard devices, which have originally been designed as very reliable cw fiber pumps.

Noncontact simultaneous dual wavelength photoplethysmography: A further step toward noncontact pulse oximetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Humphreys, Kenneth; Ward, Tomas; Markham, Charles

2007-04-01

We present a camera-based device capable of capturing two photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals at two different wavelengths simultaneously, in a remote noncontact manner. The system comprises a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor camera and dual wavelength array of light emitting diodes (760 and 880nm). By alternately illuminating a region of tissue with each wavelength of light, and detecting the backscattered photons with the camera at a rate of 16frames/wavelengths, two multiplexed PPG wave forms are simultaneously captured. This process is the basis of pulse oximetry, and we describe how, with the inclusion of a calibration procedure, this system could be used as a noncontact pulse oximeter to measure arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) remotely. Results from an experiment on ten subjects, exhibiting normal SpO2 readings, that demonstrate the instrument's ability to capture signals from a range of subjects under realistic lighting and environmental conditions are presented. We compare the signals captured by the noncontact system to a conventional PPG signal captured concurrently from a finger, and show by means of a J. Bland and D. Altman [Lancet 327, 307 (1986); Statistician 32, 307 (1983)] test, the noncontact device to be comparable to a contact device as a monitor of heart rate. We highlight some considerations that should be made when using camera-based "integrative" sampling methods and demonstrate through simulation, the suitability of the captured PPG signals for application of existing pulse oximetry calibration procedures.

An applicable approach for extracting human heart rate and oxygen saturation during physical movements using a multi-wavelength illumination optoelectronic sensor system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alharbi, Samah; Hu, Sijung; Mulvaney, David; Blanos, Panagiotis

2018-02-01

The ability to gather physiological parameters such as heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SpO2%) during physical movement allows to continuously monitor personal health status without disrupt their normal daily activities. Photoplethysmography (PPG) based pulse oximetry and similar principle devices are unable to extract the HR and SpO2% reliably during physical movement due to interference in the signals that arise from motion artefacts (MAs). In this research, a flexible reflectance multi-wavelength optoelectronic patch sensor (OEPS) has been developed to overcome the susceptibility of conventional pulse oximetry readings to MAs. The OEPS incorporates light embittered diodes as illumination sources with four different wavelengths, e.g. green, orange, red, and infrared unlike the conventional pulse oximetry devices that normally measure the skin absorption of only two wavelengths (red and infrared). The additional green and orange wavelengths were found to be distinguish to the absorption of deoxyhemoglobin (RHb) and oxyhemoglobin (HbO2). The reliability of extracting physiological parameters from the green and orange wavelengths is due to absorbed near to the surface of the skin, thereby shortening the optical path and so effectively reducing the influence of physical movements. To compensate of MAs, a three-axis accelerometer was used as a reference with help of adaptive filter to reduce MAs. The experiments were performed using 15 healthy subjects aged 20 to 30. The primary results show that there are no significant difference of heart rate and oxygen saturation measurements between commercial devices and OEPS Green (r=0.992), Orange(r=0.984), Red(r=0.952) and IR(r=0.97) and SpO2% (r = 0.982, p = 0.894).

Single photon quantum cryptography.

PubMed

Beveratos, Alexios; Brouri, Rosa; Gacoin, Thierry; Villing, André; Poizat, Jean-Philippe; Grangier, Philippe

2002-10-28

We report the full implementation of a quantum cryptography protocol using a stream of single photon pulses generated by a stable and efficient source operating at room temperature. The single photon pulses are emitted on demand by a single nitrogen-vacancy color center in a diamond nanocrystal. The quantum bit error rate is less that 4.6% and the secure bit rate is 7700 bits/s. The overall performances of our system reaches a domain where single photons have a measurable advantage over an equivalent system based on attenuated light pulses.

A low-loss, single-pole, four-throw RF MEMS switch driven by a double stop comb drive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, S.; Kim, H. C.; Chun, K.

2009-03-01

Our goal was to develop a single-pole four-throw (SP4T) radio frequency microelectromechanical system (RF MEMS) switch for band selection in a multi-band, multi-mode, front-end module of a wireless transceiver system. The SP4T RF MEMS switch was based on an arrangement of four single-pole single-throw (SPST) RF MEMS switches. The SP4T RF MEMS switch was driven by a double stop (DS) comb drive, with a lateral resistive contact, and composed of single crystalline silicon (SCS) on glass. A large contact force at a low-drive voltage was achieved by electrostatic actuation of the DS comb drive. Good RF characteristics were achieved by the large contact force and the lateral resistive Au-to-Au contact. Mechanical reliability was achieved by using SCS which has no residual stress as a structure material. The developed SP4T RF MEMS switch has a drive voltage of 15 V, an insertion loss below 0.31 dB at 6 GHz after more than one million cycles under a 10 mW signal, a return loss above 20 dB and an isolation value above 36 dB.

Isolated Attosecond Pulse Generation without the Need to Stabilize the Carrier-Envelope Phase of Driving Lasers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gilbertson, Steve; Khan, Sabih D.; Wu Yi

2010-08-27

Single isolated attosecond pulses can be extracted from a pulse train with an ultrafast gate in the generation target. By setting the gate width sufficiently narrow with the generalized double optical gating, we demonstrate that single isolated attosecond pulses can be generated with any arbitrary carrier-envelope phase value of the driving laser. The carrier-envelope phase only affects the photon flux, not the pulse duration or contrast. Our results show that isolated attosecond pulses can be generated using carrier-envelope phase unstabilized 23 fs pulses directly from chirped pulse amplifiers.

Dual-pulses and harmonic patterns of a square-wave soliton in passively mode-locked fiber laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Wanzhuo; Wang, Tianshu; Su, Qingchao; Zhang, Jing; Jia, Qingsong; Jiang, Huilin

2018-06-01

We demonstrate a square-wave soliton pulse passively mode-locked fiber laser. The mode-locked pulses are achieved by using a nonlinear amplifying loop mirror. Single-pulse operation at a fundamental repetition rate of 3.2 MHz is obtained. The optical spectrum presents the soliton feature of several sidebands. The pulse duration expands with increasing pump power, but the amplitude hardly varies. Pulse breaking occurs and a stable dual-pulse is obtained with a fixed interval of 48 ns. Harmonic mode-locked states can be achieved when the total pump power is higher than 740 mW. The harmonic pulses can also operate in both single-pulse and dual-pulse states.

Single and Multi-Pulse Low-Energy Conical Theta Pinch Inductive Pulsed Plasma Thruster Performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hallock, Ashley K.; Martin, Adam; Polzin, Kurt; Kimberlin, Adam; Eskridge, Richard

2013-01-01

Fabricated and tested CTP IPPTs at cone angles of 20deg, 38deg, and 60deg, and performed direct single-pulse impulse bit measurements with continuous gas flow. Single pulse performance highest for 38deg angle with impulse bit of approx.1 mN-s for both argon and xenon. Estimated efficiencies low, but not unexpectedly so based on historical data trends and the direction of the force vector in the CTP. Capacitor charging system assembled to provide rapid recharging of capacitor bank, permitting repetition-rate operation. IPPT operated at repetition-rate of 5 Hz, at maximum average power of 2.5 kW, representing to our knowledge the highest average power for a repetitively-pulsed thruster. Average thrust in repetition-rate mode (at 5 kV, 75 sccm argon) was greater than simply multiplying the single-pulse impulse bit and the repetition rate.

The Effect of a Dietary Nitrate Supplementation in the Form of a Single Shot of Beetroot Juice on Static and Dynamic Apnea Performance.

PubMed

Barlow, Matthew J; Elia, Antonis; Shannon, Oliver M; Zacharogianni, Angeliki; Lodin-Sundstrom, Angelica

2018-06-12

The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of acute nitrate ([Formula: see text])-rich beetroot juice (BRJ) supplementation on peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ), heart rate (HR), and pulmonary gas exchange during submaximal static and dynamic apnea. Nine (six males and three females) trained apneists (age: 39.6 ± 8.2 years, stature: 170.4 ± 11.5 cm, and body mass: 72.0 ± 11.5 kg) performed three submaximal static apneas at 60%, 70%, and 80% of the participant's current reported personal best time, followed by three submaximal (∼75% or personal best distance) dynamic apneas following the consumption of either a 70-ml concentrated BRJ (7.7 mmol [Formula: see text]) or a [Formula: see text]-depleted placebo (PLA; 0.1 mmol [Formula: see text]) in double-blind randomized manner. HR and SpO 2 were measured via fingertip pulse oximetry at the nadir, and online gas analysis was used to assess pulmonary oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]) during recovery following breath-holds. There were no differences (p < .05) among conditions for HR (PLA = 59 ± 11 bpm and BRJ = 61 ± 12 bpm), SpO 2 (PLA = 83% ± 14% and BRJ = 84% ±9%), or [Formula: see text] (PLA = 1.00 ± 0.22 L/min and BRJ = 0.97 ± 0.27 L/min). The consumption of 7.7 mmol of beetroot juice supplementation prior to a series of submaximal static and dynamic apneas did not induce a significant change in SpO 2 , HR, and [Formula: see text] when compared with placebo. Therefore, there is no apparent physiological response that may benefit free divers as a result of the supplementation.

New Australian stiletto flies: revision of Manestella Metz and description of Medomega gen. n. (Diptera, Therevidae, Agapophytinae)

PubMed Central

Winterton, Shaun L.; Lambkin, Christine L.

2012-01-01

Abstract The previously monotypic genus Manestella Metz, 2003 is revised with a single species, Manestella tristriata (Mann, 1933), redescribed and an additional 14 new species described: Manestella caesia sp. n., Manestella campestris sp. n., Manestella canities sp. n., Manestella cooloola sp. n., Manestella fumosa sp. n., Manestella incompleta sp. n., Manestella nubis sp. n., Manestella obscura sp. n., Manestella ocellaris sp. n., Manestella persona sp. n., Manestella poecilothorax sp. n., Manestella umbrapennis sp. n., Manestella vasta sp. n. and Manestella vespera sp. n. The putative sister genus to Manestella, Medomega gen. n., is described containing six new species: Medomega averyi sp. n., Medomega bailmeup sp. n., Medomega chlamydos sp. n., Medomega danielsi sp. n., Medomega gigasathe sp. n., and Medomega nebrias sp. n. Complete taxonomic descriptions were generated from a character matrix developed in Lucid Builder from which natural language descriptions (NLD) were parsed. Images of all species of Manestella and Medomega gen. n. are included, along with dichotomous keys to species. PMID:23226714

Optimization of passively mode-locked quasi-continuously diode-pumped Nd:GdVO4 laser in bounce geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frank, Milan; Jelínek, Michal; Kubeček, Václav

2015-01-01

In this paper the operation of pulsed diode-pumped Nd:GdVO4 laser oscillator in bounce geometry passively modelocked using semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SAM), generating microjoule level picosecond pulses at wavelength of 1063 nm, is reported. Optimization of the output coupling for generation either Q-switched mode locked pulse trains or cavity dumped single pulses with maximum energy was performed, which resulted in extraction of single pulses as short as 10 ps and energy of 20 uJ. In comparison with the previous results obtained with this Nd:GdVO4 oscillator and saturable absorber in transmission mode, the achieved pulse duration is five times shorter. Using different absorbers and parameters of single pulse extraction enables generation of the pulses with duration up to 100 ps with the energy in the range from 10 to 20 μJ.

A motion-tolerant approach for monitoring SpO2 and heart rate using photoplethysmography signal with dual frame length processing and multi-classifier fusion.

PubMed

Fan, Feiyi; Yan, Yuepeng; Tang, Yongzhong; Zhang, Hao

2017-12-01

Monitoring pulse oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) and heart rate (HR) using photoplethysmography (PPG) signal contaminated by a motion artifact (MA) remains a difficult problem, especially when the oximeter is not equipped with a 3-axis accelerometer for adaptive noise cancellation. In this paper, we report a pioneering investigation on the impact of altering the frame length of Molgedey and Schuster independent component analysis (ICAMS) on performance, design a multi-classifier fusion strategy for selecting the PPG correlated signal component, and propose a novel approach to extract SpO 2 and HR readings from PPG signal contaminated by strong MA interference. The algorithm comprises multiple stages, including dual frame length ICAMS, a multi-classifier-based PPG correlated component selector, line spectral analysis, tree-based HR monitoring, and post-processing. Our approach is evaluated by multi-subject tests. The root mean square error (RMSE) is calculated for each trial. Three statistical metrics are selected as performance evaluation criteria: mean RMSE, median RMSE and the standard deviation (SD) of RMSE. The experimental results demonstrate that a shorter ICAMS analysis window probably results in better performance in SpO 2 estimation. Notably, the designed multi-classifier signal component selector achieved satisfactory performance. The subject tests indicate that our algorithm outperforms other baseline methods regarding accuracy under most criteria. The proposed work can contribute to improving the performance of current pulse oximetry and personal wearable monitoring devices. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Novel Binary Mixture of Helicoverpa armigera Single Nucleopolyhedrovirus Genotypic Variants Has Improved Insecticidal Characteristics for Control of Cotton Bollworms

PubMed Central

Arrizubieta, Maite; Simón, Oihane; Williams, Trevor

2015-01-01

The genotypic diversity of two Spanish isolates of Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearSNPV) was evaluated with the aim of identifying mixtures of genotypes with improved insecticidal characteristics for control of the cotton bollworm. Two genotypic variants, HearSP1A and HearSP1B, were cloned in vitro from the most pathogenic wild-type isolate of the Iberian Peninsula, HearSNPV-SP1 (HearSP1-wt). Similarly, six genotypic variants (HearLB1 to -6) were obtained by endpoint dilution from larvae collected from cotton crops in southern Spain that died from virus disease during laboratory rearing. Variants differed significantly in their insecticidal properties, pathogenicity, speed of kill, and occlusion body (OB) production (OBs/larva). HearSP1B was ∼3-fold more pathogenic than HearSP1-wt and the other variants. HearLB1, HearLB2, HeaLB5, and HearLB6 were the fastest-killing variants. Moreover, although highly virulent, HearLB1, HearLB4, and HearLB5 produced more OBs/larva than did the other variants. The co-occluded HearSP1B:LB6 mixture at a 1:1 proportion was 1.7- to 2.8-fold more pathogenic than any single variant and other mixtures tested and also killed larvae as fast as the most virulent genotypes. Serial passage resulted in modified proportions of the component variants of the HearSP1B:LB6 co-occluded mixture, suggesting that transmissibility could be further improved by this process. We conclude that the improved insecticidal phenotype of the HearSP1B:LB6 co-occluded mixture underlines the utility of the genotypic variant dissection and reassociation approach for the development of effective virus-based insecticides. PMID:25841011

Oriented graphite layer formation in Ti/C and TiC/C multilayers deposited by high current pulsed cathodic arc

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Persson, P. O. A.; Ryves, L.; Tucker, M. D.

2008-10-01

Ti/C and TiC/C multilayers with periods ranging from 2 to 18 nm were grown by filtered high current pulsed cathodic arc. The growth was monitored in situ by ellipsometry and cantilever stress measurements. The ellipsometry results reveal that the optical properties of the carbon vary as a function of thickness. Correspondingly, the stress in each carbon layer as measured in situ exhibits two well defined values: initially the stress is low and then takes on a higher value for the remainder of the layer. Transmission electron microscopy shows that the initial growth of carbon on Ti or TiC layer ismore » oriented with graphitic basal planes aligned parallel to the interface. After 2-4 nm of growth, the graphitic structure transforms to amorphous carbon. Electron energy loss spectroscopy shows that the carbon layer simultaneously undergoes a transition from sp{sup 2} rich to sp{sup 3} rich material.« less

Filtered pulsed cathodic arc deposition of fullerene-like carbon and carbon nitride films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tucker, Mark D.; Czigány, Zsolt; Broitman, Esteban; Näslund, Lars-Åke; Hultman, Lars; Rosen, Johanna

2014-04-01

Carbon and carbon nitride films (CNx, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.26) were deposited by filtered pulsed cathodic arc and were investigated using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A "fullerene-like" (FL) structure of ordered graphitic planes, similar to that of magnetron sputtered FL-CNx films, was observed in films deposited at 175 °C and above, with N2 pressures of 0 and 0.5 mTorr. Higher substrate temperatures and significant nitrogen incorporation are required to produce similar FL structure by sputtering, which may, at least in part, be explained by the high ion charge states and ion energies characteristic of arc deposition. A gradual transition from majority sp3-hybridized films to sp2 films was observed with increasing substrate temperature. High elastic recovery, an attractive characteristic mechanical property of FL-CNx films, is evident in arc-deposited films both with and without nitrogen content, and both with and without FL structure.

Raman scattering measurements in flames using a tunable KrF excimer laser

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wehrmeyer, Joseph A.; Cheng, Tsarng-Sheng; Pitz, Robert W.

1992-01-01

A narrow-band tunable KrF excimer laser is used as a spontaneous vibrational Raman scattering source to demonstrate that single-pulse concentration and temperature measurements, with only minimal fluorescence interference, are possible for all major species (O2, N2, H2O, and H2) at all stoichiometries (fuel-lean to fuel rich) of H2-air flames. Photon-statistics-limited precisions in these instantaneous and spatially resolved single-pulse measurements are typically 5 percent, which are based on the relative standard deviations of single-pulse probability distributions. In addition to the single-pulse N2 Stokes/anti-Stokes ratio temperature measurement technique, a time-averaged temperature measurement technique is presented that matches the N2 Stokes Raman spectrum to theoretical spectra by using a single intermediate state frequency to account for near-resonance enhancement. Raman flame spectra in CH4-air flames are presented that have good signal-to-noise characteristics and show promise for single-pulse UV Raman measurements in hydrocarbon flames.

Electron Microscopic and Spectroscopic Characterization for Soot Source Differentiation by Laser Derivatization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaddam, Chethan K.

Combustion produced soot is highly variable with nanostructure and chemistry dependent upon combustion conditions and fuel. Previous studies have shown soot nanostructure to be dependent upon the source via quantification of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images for nanostructural parameters. In principle this permits identification of the soot source and its contribution to any particular receptor site. Yet many structural aspects are subtle, and the chemistry of lamellae is unaddressed for reasons of poorly resolved or differentiated nanostructure and insufficient sample quantity for traditional analytical methods. This characterization gap then leads to the formative question prompting this study: how best to bring out small differences in nanostructure and other seemingly subtle differences in chemistry? A process of pulsed laser annealing is proposed to highlight compositional and structural differences thereby distinctively and uniquely identifying the source of the soot. The operative premise being that small variations in nanostructure and unresolved differences in chemistry exist and are specific to the particular combustion process. The overall goal is then to develop the laser-based heating as an analytical tool by identifying the process conditions and operational parameters for optimal derivatization. Specific objectives directed towards achieving this goal include: 1) Identifying optimal laser operational parameters for derivatization. 2) Defining the dependence upon nanostructure and molecular composition using model soots while also identifying variability and range of outcomes. 3) Demonstrating differentiation upon combustion derived soots from real engines, e.g. diesel, gasoline, gas-turbines, combustors, etc. 4) Applying image processing algorithms to the laser heated soots to quantify and differentiate the transformed carbon nanostructures. For laser derivatization, a sample-housing chamber was custom built using a commercial optical grade quartz tube. Depending on the sample quantity, two different sample support systems were designed. Soot was laser-heated while in an inert (Ar) atmosphere using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 nm. A laser beam dimension of ca 9 mm in diameter ensured that the entire sample area received uniform irradiation. To identify the optimal laser fluence, pulsed laser heating was applied at three different laser fluences to three carbon samples. Laser heating at these short timescales produced partially graphitized structures comprised of extended graphitic layers (>1 nm), and voids as material is rearranged. While laser heating the material with additional pulses did further graphitize the material, multiple pulses were not particularly beneficial for laser derivatization as this repetitive exposure decreased the degree of differentiation between the test samples. Based on visual HRTEM observations and quantified fringe analysis, a single pulse laser fluence of 250 mJ/cm2 (˜2800 K, determined from multiwavelength pyrommetry) produced the best derivatization without causing fragmentation or material ablation. For demonstrating the uniqueness of the laser-derivatized (nano)structure as dependent upon source and combustion conditions, the laser derivatization technique was validated by comparing different synthetic carbons, selected soots from transportation and residential combustion sources, and laboratory flames, each with recognizable nanostructure. After laser heating, the direction of nanostructure evolution of the synthetic carbons (possessing C:H > 10:1) appeared to be governed by their initial nanostructure as shown by HRTEM images. As illustration of chemistry's role, though nascent R250 carbon black showed structural similarity across multiple particles, laser heating led to either hollow shells or particles with internal structures. These differences were attributed to the chemistry of construction, i.e., the sp2/sp 3 bonding as quantified by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), showing significant differences between particles as large as 60%. The nanostructure of soots from different transportation sources (such as diesel, jet and gasoline engines) evolved distinctively upon laser annealing. Laser derivatization of soot collected from same platform (engine-type) revealed that fuel commonality leads to similar nanostructure for the same class of combustion source, whereas, fuel dependence and ensuing chemistry differences were prominently illustrated by comparison of laser-annealed soots originating from ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) and an oxygenated fuel blend. The origin for this dependence was identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), revealing a significantly lower sp2/sp3 carbon bonding for the oxygenated fuels compared to their pure hydrocarbon fuels. As another example, laser annealing of residential boiler soot produced highly intertwined lamellae; this was attributed to inherent chemistry differences relative to the biodiesel (B100) soot that similarly lacked recognizable nanostructure. These observations suggest that the initial soot nanostructure in conjunction with the chemistry of construction governs the material transformation under pulsed laser annealing. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).

No effect of artificial gravity on lung function with exercise training during head-down bed rest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Longxiang; Guo, Yinghua; Wang, Yajuan; Wang, Delong; Liu, Changting

2016-04-01

The aim of this study is to explore the effectiveness of microgravity simulated by head-down bed rest (HDBR) and artificial gravity (AG) with exercise on lung function. Twenty-four volunteers were randomly divided into control and exercise countermeasure (CM) groups for 96 h of 6° HDBR. Comparisons of pulse rate, pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) and lung function were made between these two groups at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96 h. Compared with the sitting position, inspiratory capacity and respiratory reserve volume were significantly higher than before HDBR (0° position) (P < 0.05). Vital capacity, expiratory reserve volume, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, forced inspiratory vital capacity, forced inspiratory volume in 1 s, forced expiratory flow at 25, 50, and 75%, maximal mid-expiratory flow and peak expiratory flow were all significantly lower than those before HDBR (P < 0.05). Neither control nor CM groups showed significant differences in pulse rate, SpO2, pulmonary volume and pulmonary ventilation function over the HDBR observation time. Postural changes can lead to variation in lung volume and ventilation function, but a HDBR model induced no changes in pulmonary function and therefore should not be used to study AG countermeasures.

Exploring the use of natural antimicrobial agents and pulsed electric fields to control spoilage bacteria during a beer production process.

PubMed

Galvagno, M A; Gil, G R; Iannone, L J; Cerrutti, P

2007-01-01

Different natural antimicrobials affected viability of bacterial contaminants isolated at critical steps during a beer production process. In the presence of 1 mg/ml chitosan and 0.3 mg/ml hops, the viability of Escherichia coli in an all malt barley extract wort could be reduced to 0.7 and 0.1% respectively after 2 hour- incubation at 4 degrees C. The addition of 0.0002 mg/ml nisin, 0.1 mg/ml chitosan or 0.3 mg/ml hops, selectively inhibited growth of Pediococcus sp. in more than 10,000 times with respect to brewing yeast in a mixed culture. In the presence of 0.1 mg ml chitosan in beer, no viable cells of the thermoresistant strain Bacillus megaterium were detected. Nisin, chitosan and hops increased microbiological stability during storage of a local commercial beer inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum or Pediococcus sp. isolated from wort. Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) (8 kV/cm, 3 pulses) application enhanced antibacterial activity of nisin and hops but not that of chitosan. The results herein obtained suggest that the use of these antimicrobial compounds in isolation or in combination with PEF would be effective to control bacterial contamination during beer production and storage.

Single-pulse interference caused by temporal reflection at moving refractive-index boundaries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Plansinis, Brent W.; Donaldson, William R.; Agrawal, Govind P.

Here, we show numerically and analytically that temporal reflections from a moving refractive-index boundary act as an analog of Lloyd’s mirror, allowing a single pulse to produce interference fringes in time as it propagates inside a dispersive medium. This interference can be viewed as the pulse interfering with a virtual pulse that is identical to the first, except for a π-phase shift. Furthermore, if a second moving refractive-index boundary is added to create the analog of an optical waveguide, a single pulse can be self-imaged or made to produce two or more pulses by adjusting the propagation length in amore » process similar to the Talbot effect.« less

Single-pulse interference caused by temporal reflection at moving refractive-index boundaries

DOE PAGES

Plansinis, Brent W.; Donaldson, William R.; Agrawal, Govind P.

2017-09-29

Here, we show numerically and analytically that temporal reflections from a moving refractive-index boundary act as an analog of Lloyd’s mirror, allowing a single pulse to produce interference fringes in time as it propagates inside a dispersive medium. This interference can be viewed as the pulse interfering with a virtual pulse that is identical to the first, except for a π-phase shift. Furthermore, if a second moving refractive-index boundary is added to create the analog of an optical waveguide, a single pulse can be self-imaged or made to produce two or more pulses by adjusting the propagation length in amore » process similar to the Talbot effect.« less

Cost-effective WDM-PON Delivering Up/Down-stream Data on a Single Wavelength Using Soliton Pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tawade, Laxman

2013-06-01

This paper presents wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network (WDM-PON) system delivering downstream 2.5 Gbit/s data and upstream 1 Gbit/s data on a single wavelength using pulse source is mode locked laser which generating a single pulse of "sech" shape with specified power and width i.e. soliton pulse. The optical source for downstream data and upstream data is sech pulse generator at central office and reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) at each optical network unit. We also investigate analysis of backscattered optical signal for upstream data and downstream data simultaneously. Bit error rate, Q-Factor were measured to demonstrate the proposed scheme. In this paper Long reach aspects of an access network is investigated using single channel scenario.

Stable aqueous dispersions of functionalized multi-layer graphene by pulsed underwater plasma exfoliation of graphite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer-Plath, Asmus; Beckert, Fabian; Tölle, Folke J.; Sturm, Heinz; Mülhaupt, Rolf

2016-02-01

A process was developed for graphite particle exfoliation in water to stably dispersed multi-layer graphene. It uses electrohydraulic shockwaves and the functionalizing effect of solution plasma discharges in water. The discharges were excited by 100 ns high voltage pulsing of graphite particle chains that bridge an electrode gap. The underwater discharges allow simultaneous exfoliation and chemical functionalization of graphite particles to partially oxidized multi-layer graphene. Exfoliation is caused by shockwaves that result from rapid evaporation of carbon and water to plasma-excited gas species. Depending on discharge energy and locus of ignition, the shockwaves cause stirring, erosion, exfoliation and/or expansion of graphite flakes. The process was optimized to produce long-term stable aqueous dispersions of multi-layer graphene from graphite in a single process step without requiring addition of intercalants, surfactants, binders or special solvents. A setup was developed that allows continuous production of aqueous dispersions of flake size-selected multi-layer graphenes. Due to the well-preserved sp2-carbon structure, thin films made from the dispersed graphene exhibited high electrical conductivity. Underwater plasma discharge processing exhibits high innovation potential for morphological and chemical modifications of carbonaceous materials and surfaces, especially for the generation of stable dispersions of two-dimensional, layered materials.

High energy, single-polarized, single-transverse-mode, nanosecond pulses generated by a multi-stage Yb-doped photonic crystal fiber amplifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Xinglai; Zhang, Haitao; Hao, He; Li, Dan; Li, Qinghua; Yan, Ping; Gong, Mali

2015-06-01

We report the construction of a cascaded fiber amplifier where a 40-μm-core-diameter photonic crystal fiber is utilized in the main amplifier stage. Single-transverse-mode, linearly-polarized, 7.5 ns pulses with 1.5 mJ energy, 123 kW peak power and 10 nm spectral bandwidth centered at 1062 nm are generated. To our knowledge, the pulse energy we obtain is the highest from 40-μm-core-diameter photonic crystal fibers, and also the highest for long pulses (>1 ns) with linear polarization and single transverse mode.

Anticyphon gen. nov., a new genus of Scirtidae (Coleoptera: Scirtoidea) inhabiting high altitude Andean cloud forests and páramo formation.

PubMed

Ruta, Rafał

2016-10-17

A new genus of Scirtidae is described to accommodate six newly described species distributed in the northern part of the Andes. Three species are described from Ecuador (Anticyphon davidsoni sp. nov., A. ecuadorensis sp. nov., A. paramoensis sp. nov.), two from Peru (A. oyonensis sp. nov., A. peruvianus sp. nov.), and a single one from Colombia (A. santanderensis sp. nov.). Morphological characters are illustrated with focus on hind wings, mouthparts and male genitalia. An identification key to species is provided.

Estimation of Individual-specific Progression to Impending Cardiovascular Instability using Arterial Waveforms

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-08-08

pressure; SpO2, oxygen saturation of arterial blood by pulse oximetry. -75-60-45-30-15Baseline 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 HT LT LBNP, mmHg S tr o ke V o...systolic arterial blood pressure (mmHg) generated from the Finometer. R-R intervals (ms) were used to calculate heart rate (beats/min). Oxygen saturation of...The CRI can be integrated into any standard monitor that generates an arterial waveform, including a finger pulse oximeter that is available in the

Simple ps microchip Nd:YVO4 laser with 3.3-ps pulses at 0.2 to 1.4 MHz and single-stage amplification to the microjoule level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Türkyilmaz, Erdal; Lohbreier, Jan; Günther, Christian; Mehner, Eva; Kopf, Daniel; Giessen, Harald; Braun, Bernd

2016-06-01

Commercial picosecond sources have found widespread applications. Typical system parameters are pulse widths below 20 ps, repetition rates between 0.1 and 2 MHz, and microjoule level pulse energies. Most systems are based on short pulse mode-locked oscillators, regenerative amplifiers, and pockel cells as active beam switches. In contrast, we present a completely passive system, consisting of a passively Q-switched microchip laser, a single-stage amplifier, and a pulse compressor. The Q-switched microchip laser has a 50-μm-long Nd:YVO4 gain material optically bonded to a 4.6-mm-thick undoped YVO4 crystal. It delivers pulse widths of 40 ps and repetition rates of 0.2 to 1.4 MHz at a wavelength of 1.064 μm. The pulse energy is a few nanojoule. These 40-ps pulses are spectrally broadened in a standard single-mode fiber and then compressed in a 24-mm-long chirped Bragg grating to as low as 3.3 ps. The repetition rate can be tuned from ˜0.2 to 1.4 MHz by changing the pump power, while the pulse width and the pulse energy from the microchip laser are unchanged. The spectral broadening in the fiber is observed throughout the pulse repetition rate, supporting sub-10-ps pulses. Finally, the pulses are amplified in a single-stage Nd:YVO4 amplifier up to the microjoule level (up to 4 μJ pulse energy). As a result, the system delivers sub-10-ps pulses at a microjoule level with about 1 MHz repetition rate, and thus fulfills the requirements for ps-micromachining. It does not contain any active switching elements and can be integrated in a very compact setup.

Simple ps microchip Nd:YVO4 laser with 3.3 ps pulses at 0.2 - 1.4 MHz and single-stage amplification to the microjoule level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Türkyilmaz, Erdal; Lohbreier, Jan; Günther, Christian; Mehner, Eva; Kopf, Daniel; Giessen, Harald; Braun, Bernd

2016-03-01

Commercial picosecond sources have found widespread applications. Typical system parameters are pulse widths below 20 ps, repetition rates between 0.1 to 2 MHz, and micro Joule level pulse energies. Most systems are based on short pulse modelocked oscillators, regenerative amplifiers, and pockel cells as active beam switches. In contrast we present a completely passive system, consisting of a passively Q-switched microchip laser, a single-stage amplifier, and a pulse compressor. The Q-switched microchip laser has a 50 μm long Nd:YVO4-gain material optically bonded to a 4.6 mm thick undoped YVO4-crystal. It delivers pulse widths of 40 ps and repetition rates of 0.2 - 1.4 MHz at a wavelength of 1.064 μm. The pulse energy is a few nJ. These 40-ps pulses are spectrally broadened in a standard single mode fibre and then compressed in a 24 mm long chirped Bragg grating to as low as 3.3 ps. The repetition rate can be tuned from app. 0.2 to 1.4 MHz by changing the pump power while the pulse width and the pulse energy from the microchip laser are unchanged. The spectral broadening in the fibre is observed throughout the pulse repetition rate, supporting sub-10- ps pulses. Finally, the pulses are amplified in a single-stage Nd:YVO4-amplifier up to the microjoule level (up to 4 μJ pulse energy). As a result the system delivers sub-10-ps pulses at a microjoule level with about 1 MHz repetition rate, and thus fulfills the requirements for ps-micromachining. It does not contain any active switching elements and can be integrated in a very compact setup.

Pea (Pisum sp.) genetic resources, its analysis and exploration

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Pea is important temperate region pulse, with feed, fodder and vegetable uses. Originated and domesticated in Middle East and Mediterranean, it formed important dietary components of early civilizations. Although Pisum is a small genus with two or three species, it is very diverse and structured, r...

100μJ-level single frequency linearly-polarized nanosecond pulsed laser at 775 nm (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Wei; Fang, Qiang; Fan, Jingli; Cui, Xuelong; Zhang, Zhuo; Li, Jinhui; Zhou, Guoqing

2017-02-01

We report a single frequency, linearly polarized, near diffraction-limited, pulsed laser source at 775 nm by frequency doubling a single frequency nanosecond pulsed all fiber based master oscillator-power amplifier, seeded by a fiber coupled semiconductor DFB laser diode at 1550 nm. The laser diode was driven by a pulsed laser driver to generate 5 ns laser pulses at 260 Hz repetition rate with 50 pJ pulse energy. The pulse energy was boosted to 200 μJ using two stages of core-pumped fiber amplifiers and two stages of cladding-pumped fiber amplifiers. The multi-stage synchronous pulse pumping technique was adopted in the four stages of fiber amplifiers to mitigate the ASE. The frequency doubling is implemented in a single pass configuration using a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal. The crystal is 3 mm long, 1.4 mm wide, 1 mm thick, with a 19.36 μm domain period chosen for quasi-phase matching at 33°C. It was AR coated at both 1550 nm and 775 nm. The maximum pulse energy of 97 μJ was achieved when 189 μJ fundamental laser was launched. The corresponding conversion efficiency is about 51.3%. The pulse duration was measured to be 4.8 ns. So the peak power of the generated 775 nm laser pulses reached 20 kW. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a 100 μJ-level, tens of kilowatts-peak-power-level single frequency linearly polarized 775 nm laser based on the frequency doubling of the fiber lasers.

The Accuracy of 6 Inexpensive Pulse Oximeters Not Cleared by the Food and Drug Administration: The Possible Global Public Health Implications.

PubMed

Lipnick, Michael S; Feiner, John R; Au, Paul; Bernstein, Michael; Bickler, Philip E

2016-08-01

Universal access to pulse oximetry worldwide is often limited by cost and has substantial public health consequences. Low-cost pulse oximeters have become increasingly available with limited regulatory agency oversight. The accuracy of these devices often has not been validated, raising questions about performance. The accuracy of 6 low-cost finger pulse oximeters during stable arterial oxygen saturations (SaO2) between 70% and 100% was evaluated in 22 healthy subjects. Oximeters tested were the Contec CMS50DL, Beijing Choice C20, Beijing Choice MD300C23, Starhealth SH-A3, Jumper FPD-500A, and Atlantean SB100 II. Inspired oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide partial pressures were monitored and adjusted via a partial rebreathing circuit to achieve 10 to 12 stable target SaO2 plateaus between 70% and 100% and PaCO2 values of 35 to 45 mm Hg. Comparisons of pulse oximeter readings (SpO2) with arterial SaO2 (by Radiometer ABL90 and OSM3) were used to calculate bias (SpO2 - SaO2) mean, precision (SD of the bias), and root mean square error (ARMS). Pulse oximeter readings corresponding to 536 blood samples were analyzed. Four of the 6 oximeters tested showed large errors (up to -6.30% mean bias, precision 4.30%, 7.53 ARMS) in estimating saturation when SaO2 was reduced <80%, and half of the oximeters demonstrated large errors when estimating saturations between 80% and 90%. Two of the pulse oximeters tested (Contec CMS50DL and Beijing Choice C20) demonstrated ARMS of <3% at SaO2 between 70% and 100%, thereby meeting International Organization for Standardization (ISO) criteria for accuracy. Many low-cost pulse oximeters sold to consumers demonstrate highly inaccurate readings. Unexpectedly, the accuracy of some low-cost pulse oximeters tested here performed similarly to more expensive, ISO-cleared units when measuring hypoxia in healthy subjects. None of those tested here met World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists standards, and the ideal testing conditions do not necessarily translate these findings to the clinical setting. Nonetheless, further development of accurate, low-cost oximeters for use in clinical practice is feasible and, if pursued, could improve access to safe care, especially in low-income countries.

Auditory-nerve single-neuron thresholds to electrical stimulation from scala tympani electrodes.

PubMed

Parkins, C W; Colombo, J

1987-12-31

Single auditory-nerve neuron thresholds were studied in sensory-deafened squirrel monkeys to determine the effects of electrical stimulus shape and frequency on single-neuron thresholds. Frequency was separated into its components, pulse width and pulse rate, which were analyzed separately. Square and sinusoidal pulse shapes were compared. There were no or questionably significant threshold differences in charge per phase between sinusoidal and square pulses of the same pulse width. There was a small (less than 0.5 dB) but significant threshold advantage for 200 microseconds/phase pulses delivered at low pulse rates (156 pps) compared to higher pulse rates (625 pps and 2500 pps). Pulse width was demonstrated to be the prime determinant of single-neuron threshold, resulting in strength-duration curves similar to other mammalian myelinated neurons, but with longer chronaxies. The most efficient electrical stimulus pulse width to use for cochlear implant stimulation was determined to be 100 microseconds/phase. This pulse width delivers the lowest charge/phase at threshold. The single-neuron strength-duration curves were compared to strength-duration curves of a computer model based on the specific anatomy of auditory-nerve neurons. The membrane capacitance and resulting chronaxie of the model can be varied by altering the length of the unmyelinated termination of the neuron, representing the unmyelinated portion of the neuron between the habenula perforata and the hair cell. This unmyelinated segment of the auditory-nerve neuron may be subject to aminoglycoside damage. Simulating a 10 micron unmyelinated termination for this model neuron produces a strength-duration curve that closely fits the single-neuron data obtained from aminoglycoside deafened animals. Both the model and the single-neuron strength-duration curves differ significantly from behavioral threshold data obtained from monkeys and humans with cochlear implants. This discrepancy can best be explained by the involvement of higher level neurologic processes in the behavioral responses. These findings suggest that the basic principles of neural membrane function must be considered in developing or analyzing electrical stimulation strategies for cochlear prostheses if the appropriate stimulation of frequency specific populations of auditory-nerve neurons is the objective.

Universal route to optimal few- to single-cycle pulse generation in hollow-core fiber compressors.

PubMed

Conejero Jarque, E; San Roman, J; Silva, F; Romero, R; Holgado, W; Gonzalez-Galicia, M A; Alonso, B; Sola, I J; Crespo, H

2018-02-02

Gas-filled hollow-core fiber (HCF) pulse post-compressors generating few- to single-cycle pulses are a key enabling tool for attosecond science and ultrafast spectroscopy. Achieving optimum performance in this regime can be extremely challenging due to the ultra-broad bandwidth of the pulses and the need of an adequate temporal diagnostic. These difficulties have hindered the full exploitation of HCF post-compressors, namely the generation of stable and high-quality near-Fourier-transform-limited pulses. Here we show that, independently of conditions such as the type of gas or the laser system used, there is a universal route to obtain the shortest stable output pulse down to the single-cycle regime. Numerical simulations and experimental measurements performed with the dispersion-scan technique reveal that, in quite general conditions, post-compressed pulses exhibit a residual third-order dispersion intrinsic to optimum nonlinear propagation within the fiber, in agreement with measurements independently performed in several laboratories around the world. The understanding of this effect and its adequate correction, e.g. using simple transparent optical media, enables achieving high-quality post-compressed pulses with only minor changes in existing setups. These optimized sources have impact in many fields of science and technology and should enable new and exciting applications in the few- to single-cycle pulse regime.

Emergency Department Vital Signs and Outcomes After Discharge.

PubMed

Gabayan, Gelareh Z; Gould, Michael K; Weiss, Robert E; Derose, Stephen F; Chiu, Vicki Y; Sarkisian, Catherine A

2017-07-01

Vital signs are critical markers of illness severity in the emergency department (ED). Providers need to understand the abnormal vital signs in older adults that are problematic. We hypothesized that in patients age > 65 years discharged from the ED, there are abnormal vital signs that are associated with an admission to an inpatient bed within 7 days of discharge. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from a regional integrated health system of members age > 65 years during the years 2009 to 2010. We used univariate contingency tables to assess the relationship between hospital admission within 7 days of discharge and vital sign (including systolic blood pressure [sBP], heart rate [HR], body temperature, and pulse oximetry [SpO 2 ] values measured closest to discharge) using standard thresholds for abnormal and thresholds derived from the study data. Of 104,025 ED discharges, 4,638 (4.5%) were followed by inpatient admission within 7 days. Vital signs had a greater odds of admission beyond a single cutoff. The vital signs with at least twice the odds of admission were sBP < 97 mm Hg (odds ratio [OR] = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.57-2.60), HR > 101 beats/min (OR = 2.00 95% CI = 1.75-2.29), body temperature > 37.3°C (OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.90-2.41), and pulse oximetry < 92 SpO 2 (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.55-2.68). Patients with two vital sign abnormalities per the analysis had the highest odds of admission. A majority of patients discharged with abnormal vital signs per the analysis were not admitted within 7 days of ED discharge. While we found a majority of patients discharged with abnormal vital signs as defined by the analysis, not to be admitted after discharge, we identified vital signs associated with at least twice the odds of admission. © 2017 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

Neuroprotective effect of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis against kainic acid-neuronal death.

PubMed

Pérez-Juárez, Angélica; Chamorro, Germán; Alva-Sánchez, Claudia; Paniagua-Castro, Norma; Pacheco-Rosado, Jorge

2016-08-01

Context Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis (SP) is a cyanobacterium which has attracted attention because of its nutritional value and pharmacological properties. It was previously reported that SP reduces oxidative stress in the hippocampus and protects against damaging neurobehavioural effects of systemic kainic acid (KA). It is widely known that the systemic administration of KA induces neuronal damage, specifically in the CA3 hippocampal region. Objective The present study determines if the SP sub-chronic treatment has neuroprotective properties against KA. Materials and methods Male SW mice were treated with SP during 24 d, at doses of 0, 200, and 800 mg/kg, once daily, and with KA (35 mg/kg, ip) as a single dose on day 14. After the treatment, a histological analysis was performed and the number of atrophic neuronal cells in CA3 hippocampal region was quantified. Results Pretreatment with SP does not protect against seizures induced by KA. However, mortality in the SP 200 and the SP 800 groups was of 20%, while for the KA group, it was of 60%. A single KA ip administration produced a considerable neuronal damage, whereas both doses of SP sub-chronic treatment reduced the number of atrophic neurons in CA3 hippocampal region with respect to the KA group. Discussion The SP neurobehaviour improvement after KA systemic administration correlates with the capacity of SP to reduce KA-neuronal death in CA3 hippocampal cells. This neuroprotection may be related to the antioxidant properties of SP. Conclusion SP reduces KA-neuronal death in CA3 hippocampal cells.

Single-beam Denisyuk holograms recording with pulsed 30Hz RGB laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zacharovas, Stanislovas; Bakanas, Ramūnas; Stankauskas, Algimantas

2016-03-01

It is well known fact that holograms can be recorded either by continuous wave (CW) laser, or by single pulse coming from pulsed laser. However, multi-pulse or multiple-exposure holograms were used only in interferometry as well as for information storage. We have used Geola's single longitudinal mode pulsed RGB laser to record Denisyuk type holograms. We successfully recorded objects situated at the distance of more than 30cm, employing the multi-pulse working regime of the laser. To record Denisyuk hologram we have used 50 ns duration 440, 660nm wavelength and 35ns duration 532nm wavelength laser pulses at the repetition rate of 30Hz. As photosensitive medium we have used Slavich-Geola PFG-03C glass photoplate. Radiations with different wavelengths were mixed into "white" beam, collimated and directed onto the photoplate. For further objects illumination an additional flat silver coated mirror was used.

Measurement of ultrashort laser pulses using single-crystal films of 4-aminobenzophenone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhowmik, Achintya K.; Tan, Shida; Ahyi, Ayayi C.; Dharmadhikari, J. A.; Dharmadhikari, A. K.; Mathur, D.

2007-12-01

Single-crystal thin-film of an organic second-order nonlinear optical material, 4-aminobenzophenone (ABP), is used to measure the pulsewidth of a Ti-Sapphire laser producing ˜45 fs pulses at 1 kHz repetition rate, by the non-collinear second-harmonic generation (SHG) intensity autocorrelation technique. These films are suitable for measurements over a broad wavelength range, down to 780 nm, due to their wide optical transparency. The single-crystal film with thickness (˜3 μm) less than the coherence length requires no phase-matching for efficient broadband SHG. Pulse walk-off due to group-velocity mismatch (GVM) and temporal broadening of the pulses due to group-velocity dispersion (GVD) are found to be negligible. These effects have been estimated for pulse width down to few-cycle pulses (˜10 fs), and the analyses show that these films can be used to characterize such ultrashort optical pulses.

Increased blood glycohemoglobin A1c levels lead to overestimation of arterial oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry in patients with type 2 diabetes

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Non-enzymatic glycation increases hemoglobin-oxygen affinity and reduces oxygen delivery to tissues by altering the structure and function of hemoglobin. Objectives We investigated whether an elevated blood concentration of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) could induce falsely high pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (SpO2) in type 2 diabetic patients during mechanical ventilation or oxygen therapy. Methods Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) were determined with simultaneous monitoring of SpO2 in 261 type 2 diabetic patients during ventilation or oxygen inhalation. Results Blood concentration of HbA1c was >7% in 114 patients and ≤ 7% in 147 patients. Both SaO2 (96.2 ± 2.9%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 95.7-96.7% vs. 95.1 ± 2.8%, 95% CI 94.7-95.6%) and SpO2 (98.0 ± 2.6%, 95% CI 97.6-98.5% vs. 95.3 ± 2.8%, 95% CI 94.9-95.8%) were significantly higher in patients with HbA1c >7% than in those with HbA1c ≤ 7% (Data are mean ± SD, all p < 0.01), but PO2 did not significantly differ between the two groups. Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated a significant bias between SpO2 and SaO2 (1.83 ±0.55%, 95% CI 1.73% -1.94%) and limits of agreement (0.76% and 2.92%) in patients with HbA1c >7%. The differences between SpO2 and SaO2 correlated closely with blood HbA1c levels (Pearson’s r = 0.307, p < 0.01). Conclusions Elevated blood HbA1c levels lead to an overestimation of SaO2 by SpO2, suggesting that arterial blood gas analysis may be needed for type 2 diabetic patients with poor glycemic control during the treatment of hypoxemia. PMID:22985301

Increased blood glycohemoglobin A1c levels lead to overestimation of arterial oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry in patients with type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

Pu, Li Jin; Shen, Ying; Lu, Lin; Zhang, Rui Yan; Zhang, Qi; Shen, Wei Feng

2012-09-17

Non-enzymatic glycation increases hemoglobin-oxygen affinity and reduces oxygen delivery to tissues by altering the structure and function of hemoglobin. We investigated whether an elevated blood concentration of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) could induce falsely high pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (SpO2) in type 2 diabetic patients during mechanical ventilation or oxygen therapy. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) were determined with simultaneous monitoring of SpO2 in 261 type 2 diabetic patients during ventilation or oxygen inhalation. Blood concentration of HbA1c was >7% in 114 patients and ≤ 7% in 147 patients. Both SaO2 (96.2 ± 2.9%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 95.7-96.7% vs. 95.1 ± 2.8%, 95% CI 94.7-95.6%) and SpO2 (98.0 ± 2.6%, 95% CI 97.6-98.5% vs. 95.3 ± 2.8%, 95% CI 94.9-95.8%) were significantly higher in patients with HbA1c >7% than in those with HbA1c ≤ 7% (Data are mean ± SD, all p < 0.01), but PO2 did not significantly differ between the two groups. Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated a significant bias between SpO2 and SaO2 (1.83 ±0.55%, 95% CI 1.73% -1.94%) and limits of agreement (0.76% and 2.92%) in patients with HbA1c >7%. The differences between SpO2 and SaO2 correlated closely with blood HbA1c levels (Pearson's r = 0.307, p < 0.01). Elevated blood HbA1c levels lead to an overestimation of SaO2 by SpO2, suggesting that arterial blood gas analysis may be needed for type 2 diabetic patients with poor glycemic control during the treatment of hypoxemia.

Home oximetry to screen for obstructive sleep apnoea in Down syndrome.

PubMed

Hill, Catherine M; Elphick, Heather E; Farquhar, Michael; Gringras, Paul; Pickering, Ruth M; Kingshott, Ruth N; Martin, Jane; Reynolds, Janine; Joyce, Anna; Gavlak, Johanna C; Evans, Hazel J

2018-05-14

Children with Down syndrome are at high risk of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and screening is recommended. Diagnosis of OSA should be confirmed with multichannel sleep studies. We aimed to determine whether home pulse oximetry (HPO) discriminates children at high risk of OSA, who need further diagnostic multichannel sleep studies. Cross-sectional prospective study in a training sample recruited through three UK centres. Validation sample used single-centre retrospective analysis of clinical data. Children with Down syndrome aged 0.5-6 years. Diagnostic multichannel sleep study and HPO. Sensitivity and specificity of HPO to predict moderate-to-severe OSA. 161/202 children with Down syndrome met quality criteria for inclusion and 25 had OSA. In this training sample, the best HPO parameter predictors of OSA were the delta 12 s index >0.555 (sensitivity 92%, specificity 65%) and 3% oxyhaemoglobin (SpO 2 ) desaturation index (3% ODI)>6.15 dips/hour (sensitivity 92%, specificity 63%). Combining variables (delta 12 s index, 3% ODI, mean and minimum SpO 2 ) achieved sensitivity of 96% but reduced specificity to 52%. All predictors retained or improved sensitivity in a clinical validation sample of 50 children with variable loss of specificity, best overall was the delta 12 s index, a measure of baseline SpO 2 variability (sensitivity 92%; specificity 63%). HPO screening could halve the number of children with Down syndrome needing multichannel sleep studies and reduce the burden on children, families and health services alike. This approach offers a practical universal screening approach for OSA in Down syndrome that is accessible to the non-specialist paediatrician. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Sensitivity of jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) to phosphate, phosphite, and arsenate pulses as influenced by fungal symbiotic associations.

PubMed

Kariman, Khalil; Barker, Susan J; Jost, Ricarda; Finnegan, Patrick M; Tibbett, Mark

2016-07-01

Many plant species adapted to P-impoverished soils, including jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata), develop toxicity symptoms when exposed to high doses of phosphate (Pi) and its analogs such as phosphite (Phi) and arsenate (AsV). The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of fungal symbionts Scutellospora calospora, Scleroderma sp., and Austroboletus occidentalis on the response of jarrah to highly toxic pulses (1.5 mmol kg(-1) soil) of Pi, Phi, and AsV. S. calospora formed an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis while both Scleroderma sp. and A. occidentalis established a non-colonizing symbiosis with jarrah plants. All these interactions significantly improved jarrah growth and Pi uptake under P-limiting conditions. The AM fungal colonization naturally declines in AM-eucalypt symbioses after 2-3 months; however, in the present study, the high Pi pulse inhibited the decline of AM fungal colonization in jarrah. Four weeks after exposure to the Pi pulse, plants inoculated with S. calospora had significantly lower toxicity symptoms compared to non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants, and all fungal treatments induced tolerance against Phi toxicity in jarrah. However, no tolerance was observed for AsV-treated plants even though all inoculated plants had significantly lower shoot As concentrations than the NM plants. The transcript profile of five jarrah high-affinity phosphate transporter (PHT1 family) genes in roots was not altered in response to any of the fungal species tested. Interestingly, plants exposed to high Pi supplies for 1 day did not have reduced transcript levels for any of the five PHT1 genes in roots, and transcript abundance of four PHT1 genes actually increased. It is therefore suggested that jarrah, and perhaps other P-sensitive perennial species, respond positively to Pi available in the soil solution through increasing rather than decreasing the expression of selected PHT1 genes. Furthermore, Scleroderma sp. can be considered as a fungus with dual functional capacity capable of forming both ectomycorrhizal and non-colonizing associations, where both pathways are always accompanied by evident growth and nutritional benefits.

Air travel and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a new algorithm for pre-flight evaluation.

PubMed

Edvardsen, Anne; Akerø, Aina; Christensen, Carl C; Ryg, Morten; Skjønsberg, Ole H

2012-11-01

The reduced pressure in the aircraft cabin may cause significant hypoxaemia and respiratory distress in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Simple and reliable methods for predicting the need for supplemental oxygen during air travel have been requested. To construct a pre-flight evaluation algorithm for patients with COPD. In this prospective, cross-sectional study of 100 patients with COPD referred to hypoxia-altitude simulation test (HAST), sea level pulse oximetry at rest (SpO(2 SL)) and exercise desaturation (SpO(2 6MWT)) were used to evaluate whether the patient is fit to fly without further assessment, needs further evaluation with HAST or should receive in-flight supplemental oxygen without further evaluation. HAST was used as the reference method. An algorithm was constructed using a combination of SpO(2 SL) and SpO(2 6MWT). Categories for SpO(2 SL) were >95%, 92-95% and <92%, the cut-off value for SpO(2 6MWT) was calculated as 84%. Arterial oxygen pressure (PaO(2 HAST)) <6.6 kPa was the criterion for recommending supplemental oxygen. This algorithm had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 80% when tested prospectively on an independent sample of patients with COPD (n=50). Patients with SpO(2 SL) >95% combined with SpO(2 6MWT) ≥84% may travel by air without further assessment. In-flight supplemental oxygen is recommended if SpO(2 SL)=92-95% combined with SpO(2 6MWT) <84% or if SpO(2 SL) <92%. Otherwise, HAST should be performed. The presented algorithm is simple and appears to be a reliable tool for pre-flight evaluation of patients with COPD.

Significant increase in salivary substance p level after a single oral dose of cevimeline in humans.

PubMed

Suzuki, Yosuke; Itoh, Hiroki; Amada, Kohei; Yamamura, Ryota; Sato, Yuhki; Takeyama, Masaharu

2013-01-01

Cevimeline is a novel muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonist currently being developed as a therapeutic agent for xerostomia. We examined the effects of cevimeline on salivary and plasma levels of substance-P- (SP-), calcitonin-gene-related-peptide- (CGRP-), and vasoactive-intestinal-polypeptide- (VIP-) like immunoreactive substances (ISs) in humans. An open-labeled crossover study was conducted on seven healthy volunteers. Saliva volume was measured, and saliva and venous blood samples were collected before and 30-240 min after a single oral dose of cevimeline or placebo. Salivary and plasma levels of SP-, CGRP-, and VIP-IS were measured using a highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay. A single oral dose of cevimeline resulted in significant increases in salivary but not plasma SP-IS level compared to placebo. Cevimeline administration did not alter the salivary or plasma levels of CGRP-IS or VIP-IS compared to placebo. Significant increases in salivary volume were observed after cevimeline administration compared to placebo. A significant correlation was observed between the total release of SP-IS and that of salivary volume. These findings suggest an association of SP with the enhancement of salivary secretion by cevimeline.

Significant Increase in Salivary Substance P Level after a Single Oral Dose of Cevimeline in Humans

PubMed Central

Suzuki, Yosuke; Itoh, Hiroki; Amada, Kohei; Yamamura, Ryota; Sato, Yuhki; Takeyama, Masaharu

2013-01-01

Cevimeline is a novel muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonist currently being developed as a therapeutic agent for xerostomia. We examined the effects of cevimeline on salivary and plasma levels of substance-P- (SP-), calcitonin-gene-related-peptide- (CGRP-), and vasoactive-intestinal-polypeptide- (VIP-) like immunoreactive substances (ISs) in humans. An open-labeled crossover study was conducted on seven healthy volunteers. Saliva volume was measured, and saliva and venous blood samples were collected before and 30–240 min after a single oral dose of cevimeline or placebo. Salivary and plasma levels of SP-, CGRP-, and VIP-IS were measured using a highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay. A single oral dose of cevimeline resulted in significant increases in salivary but not plasma SP-IS level compared to placebo. Cevimeline administration did not alter the salivary or plasma levels of CGRP-IS or VIP-IS compared to placebo. Significant increases in salivary volume were observed after cevimeline administration compared to placebo. A significant correlation was observed between the total release of SP-IS and that of salivary volume. These findings suggest an association of SP with the enhancement of salivary secretion by cevimeline. PMID:23589717

Pulsed Direct Current Electrospray: Enabling Systematic Analysis of Small Volume Sample by Boosting Sample Economy.

PubMed

Wei, Zhenwei; Xiong, Xingchuang; Guo, Chengan; Si, Xingyu; Zhao, Yaoyao; He, Muyi; Yang, Chengdui; Xu, Wei; Tang, Fei; Fang, Xiang; Zhang, Sichun; Zhang, Xinrong

2015-11-17

We had developed pulsed direct current electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (pulsed-dc-ESI-MS) for systematically profiling and determining components in small volume sample. Pulsed-dc-ESI utilized constant high voltage to induce the generation of single polarity pulsed electrospray remotely. This method had significantly boosted the sample economy, so as to obtain several minutes MS signal duration from merely picoliter volume sample. The elongated MS signal duration enable us to collect abundant MS(2) information on interested components in a small volume sample for systematical analysis. This method had been successfully applied for single cell metabolomics analysis. We had obtained 2-D profile of metabolites (including exact mass and MS(2) data) from single plant and mammalian cell, concerning 1034 components and 656 components for Allium cepa and HeLa cells, respectively. Further identification had found 162 compounds and 28 different modification groups of 141 saccharides in a single Allium cepa cell, indicating pulsed-dc-ESI a powerful tool for small volume sample systematical analysis.

Optimizing single-nanoparticle two-photon microscopy by in situ adaptive control of femtosecond pulses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Donghai; Deng, Yongkai; Chu, Saisai

2016-07-11

Single-nanoparticle two-photon microscopy shows great application potential in super-resolution cell imaging. Here, we report in situ adaptive optimization of single-nanoparticle two-photon luminescence signals by phase and polarization modulations of broadband laser pulses. For polarization-independent quantum dots, phase-only optimization was carried out to compensate the phase dispersion at the focus of the objective. Enhancement of the two-photon excitation fluorescence intensity under dispersion-compensated femtosecond pulses was achieved. For polarization-dependent single gold nanorod, in situ polarization optimization resulted in further enhancement of two-photon photoluminescence intensity than phase-only optimization. The application of in situ adaptive control of femtosecond pulse provides a way for object-orientedmore » optimization of single-nanoparticle two-photon microscopy for its future applications.« less

A z-gradient array for simultaneous multi-slice excitation with a single-band RF pulse.

PubMed

Ertan, Koray; Taraghinia, Soheil; Sadeghi, Alireza; Atalar, Ergin

2018-07-01

Multi-slice radiofrequency (RF) pulses have higher specific absorption rates, more peak RF power, and longer pulse durations than single-slice RF pulses. Gradient field design techniques using a z-gradient array are investigated for exciting multiple slices with a single-band RF pulse. Two different field design methods are formulated to solve for the required current values of the gradient array elements for the given slice locations. The method requirements are specified, optimization problems are formulated for the minimum current norm and an analytical solution is provided. A 9-channel z-gradient coil array driven by independent, custom-designed gradient amplifiers is used to validate the theory. Performance measures such as normalized slice thickness error, gradient strength per unit norm current, power dissipation, and maximum amplitude of the magnetic field are provided for various slice locations and numbers of slices. Two and 3 slices are excited by a single-band RF pulse in simulations and phantom experiments. The possibility of multi-slice excitation with a single-band RF pulse using a z-gradient array is validated in simulations and phantom experiments. Magn Reson Med 80:400-412, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

General ultrafast pulse measurement using the cross-correlation single-shot sonogram technique.

PubMed

Reid, Derryck T; Garduno-Mejia, Jesus

2004-03-15

The cross-correlation single-shot sonogram technique offers exact pulse measurement and real-time pulse monitoring via an intuitive time-frequency trace whose shape and orientation directly indicate the spectral chirp of an ultrashort laser pulse. We demonstrate an algorithm that solves a fundamental limitation of the cross-correlation sonogram method, namely, that the time-gating operation is implemented using a replica of the measured pulse rather than the ideal delta-function-like pulse. Using a modified principal-components generalized projections algorithm, we experimentally show accurate pulse retrieval of an asymmetric double pulse, a case that is prone to systematic error when one is using the original sonogram retrieval algorithm.

FIBER AND INTEGRATED OPTICS: Amplification of femtosecond pulses in single-mode fiber waveguides activated with Er3+ ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grudinin, A. B.; Dianov, Evgenii M.; Korobkin, D. V.; Prokhorov, A. M.; Semenov, V. A.; Khrushchev, I. Yu

1990-08-01

An experimental investigation was made of the process of amplification of femtosecond pulses in single-mode fiber waveguides activated with erbium ions. The amplified pulses were compressed from 80 to 55 fs in the course of their propagation. The energy of the pulses was estimated to be 5 nJ. The maximum gain was 26 dB.

Post hoc interlaboratory comparison of single particle ICP-MS size measurements of NIST gold nanoparticle reference materials.

PubMed

Montoro Bustos, Antonio R; Petersen, Elijah J; Possolo, Antonio; Winchester, Michael R

2015-09-01

Single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) is an emerging technique that enables simultaneous measurement of nanoparticle size and number quantification of metal-containing nanoparticles at realistic environmental exposure concentrations. Such measurements are needed to understand the potential environmental and human health risks of nanoparticles. Before spICP-MS can be considered a mature methodology, additional work is needed to standardize this technique including an assessment of the reliability and variability of size distribution measurements and the transferability of the technique among laboratories. This paper presents the first post hoc interlaboratory comparison study of the spICP-MS technique. Measurement results provided by six expert laboratories for two National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) gold nanoparticle reference materials (RM 8012 and RM 8013) were employed. The general agreement in particle size between spICP-MS measurements and measurements by six reference techniques demonstrates the reliability of spICP-MS and validates its sizing capability. However, the precision of the spICP-MS measurement was better for the larger 60 nm gold nanoparticles and evaluation of spICP-MS precision indicates substantial variability among laboratories, with lower variability between operators within laboratories. Global particle number concentration and Au mass concentration recovery were quantitative for RM 8013 but significantly lower and with a greater variability for RM 8012. Statistical analysis did not suggest an optimal dwell time, because this parameter did not significantly affect either the measured mean particle size or the ability to count nanoparticles. Finally, the spICP-MS data were often best fit with several single non-Gaussian distributions or mixtures of Gaussian distributions, rather than the more frequently used normal or log-normal distributions.

Demonstration of coherent addition of multiple gratings for high-energy chirped-pulse-amplified lasers.

PubMed

Kessler, Terrance J; Bunkenburg, Joachim; Huang, Hu; Kozlov, Alexei; Meyerhofer, David D

2004-03-15

Petawatt solid-state lasers require meter-sized gratings to reach multiple-kilojoule energy levels without laser-induced damage. As an alternative to large single gratings, we demonstrate that smaller, coherently added (tiled) gratings can be used for subpicosecond-pulse compression. A Fourier-transform-limited, 650-fs chirped-pulse-amplified laser pulse is maintained by replacing a single compression grating with a tiled-grating assembly. Grating tiling provides a means to scale the energy and irradiance of short-pulse lasers.

Pulse oximeter accuracy and precision at five different sensor locations in infants and children with cyanotic heart disease

PubMed Central

Das, Jyotirmoy; Aggarwal, Amit; Aggarwal, Naresh Kumar

2010-01-01

Since the invention of pulse oximetry by Takuo Aoyagi in the early 1970s, its use has expanded beyond the perioperative care into neonatal, paediatric and adult intensive care units (ICUs). Pulse oximetry is one of the most important advances in respiratory monitoring as its readings (SpO2) are used clinically as an indirect estimation of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2). Sensors were placed frequently on the sole, palm, ear lobe or toes in addition to finger. On performing an extensive Medline search using the terms “accuracy of pulse oximetry” and “precision of pulse oximetry”, limited data were found in congenital heart disease patients in the immediate post-corrective stage. Also, there are no reports and comparative data of the reliability and precision of pulse oximetry when readings from five different sensor locations (viz. finger, palm, toe, sole and ear) are analysed simultaneously. To fill these lacunae of knowledge, we undertook the present study in 50 infants and children with cyanotic heart disease in the immediate post-corrective stage. PMID:21224970

Pulse oximeter accuracy and precision at five different sensor locations in infants and children with cyanotic heart disease.

PubMed

Das, Jyotirmoy; Aggarwal, Amit; Aggarwal, Naresh Kumar

2010-11-01

Since the invention of pulse oximetry by Takuo Aoyagi in the early 1970s, its use has expanded beyond the perioperative care into neonatal, paediatric and adult intensive care units (ICUs). Pulse oximetry is one of the most important advances in respiratory monitoring as its readings (SpO(2)) are used clinically as an indirect estimation of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)). Sensors were placed frequently on the sole, palm, ear lobe or toes in addition to finger. On performing an extensive Medline search using the terms "accuracy of pulse oximetry" and "precision of pulse oximetry", limited data were found in congenital heart disease patients in the immediate post-corrective stage. Also, there are no reports and comparative data of the reliability and precision of pulse oximetry when readings from five different sensor locations (viz. finger, palm, toe, sole and ear) are analysed simultaneously. To fill these lacunae of knowledge, we undertook the present study in 50 infants and children with cyanotic heart disease in the immediate post-corrective stage.

Ability of the Masimo pulse CO-Oximeter to detect changes in hemoglobin.

PubMed

Colquhoun, Douglas A; Forkin, Katherine T; Durieux, Marcel E; Thiele, Robert H

2012-04-01

The decision to administer blood products is complex and multifactorial. Accurate assessment of the concentration of hemoglobin [Hgb] is a key component of this evaluation. Recently a noninvasive method of continuously measuring hemoglobin (SpHb) has become available with multi-wavelength Pulse CO-Oximetry. The accuracy of this device is well documented, but the trending ability of this monitor has not been previously described. Twenty patients undergoing major thoracic and lumbar spine surgery were recruited. All patients received radial arterial lines. On the contralateral index finger, a R1 25 sensor (Rev E) was applied and connected to a Radical-7 Pulse CO-Oximeter (both Masimo Corp, Irvine, CA). Blood samples were drawn intermittently at the anesthesia provider's discretion and were analyzed by the operating room satellite laboratory CO-Oximeter. The value of Hgb and SpHb at that time point was compared. Trend analysis was performed by the four quadrant plot technique, testing directionality of change, and Critchley's polar plot method testing both directionality and magnitude of the change in values. Eighty-eight samples recorded at times of sufficient signal quality were available for analysis. Four quadrant plot analysis revealed 94% of data within the quadrants associated with the correct direction change, and 90% of data points lay within the analysis bounds proposed by Critchley. Pulse CO-Oximetry offers an acceptable trend monitor in patients undergoing major spine surgery. Future work should explore the ability of this device to detect large changes in hemoglobin, as well as its applicability in additional surgical and non-surgical patient populations.

Graphene based widely-tunable and singly-polarized pulse generation with random fiber lasers

PubMed Central

Yao, B. C.; Rao, Y. J.; Wang, Z. N.; Wu, Y.; Zhou, J. H.; Wu, H.; Fan, M. Q.; Cao, X. L.; Zhang, W. L.; Chen, Y. F.; Li, Y. R.; Churkin, D.; Turitsyn, S.; Wong, C. W.

2015-01-01

Pulse generation often requires a stabilized cavity and its corresponding mode structure for initial phase-locking. Contrastingly, modeless cavity-free random lasers provide new possibilities for high quantum efficiency lasing that could potentially be widely tunable spectrally and temporally. Pulse generation in random lasers, however, has remained elusive since the discovery of modeless gain lasing. Here we report coherent pulse generation with modeless random lasers based on the unique polarization selectivity and broadband saturable absorption of monolayer graphene. Simultaneous temporal compression of cavity-free pulses are observed with such a polarization modulation, along with a broadly-tunable pulsewidth across two orders of magnitude down to 900 ps, a broadly-tunable repetition rate across three orders of magnitude up to 3 MHz, and a singly-polarized pulse train at 41 dB extinction ratio, about an order of magnitude larger than conventional pulsed fiber lasers. Moreover, our graphene-based pulse formation also demonstrates robust pulse-to-pulse stability and wide-wavelength operation due to the cavity-less feature. Such a graphene-based architecture not only provides a tunable pulsed random laser for fiber-optic sensing, speckle-free imaging, and laser-material processing, but also a new way for the non-random CW fiber lasers to generate widely tunable and singly-polarized pulses. PMID:26687730

Graphene based widely-tunable and singly-polarized pulse generation with random fiber lasers.

PubMed

Yao, B C; Rao, Y J; Wang, Z N; Wu, Y; Zhou, J H; Wu, H; Fan, M Q; Cao, X L; Zhang, W L; Chen, Y F; Li, Y R; Churkin, D; Turitsyn, S; Wong, C W

2015-12-21

Pulse generation often requires a stabilized cavity and its corresponding mode structure for initial phase-locking. Contrastingly, modeless cavity-free random lasers provide new possibilities for high quantum efficiency lasing that could potentially be widely tunable spectrally and temporally. Pulse generation in random lasers, however, has remained elusive since the discovery of modeless gain lasing. Here we report coherent pulse generation with modeless random lasers based on the unique polarization selectivity and broadband saturable absorption of monolayer graphene. Simultaneous temporal compression of cavity-free pulses are observed with such a polarization modulation, along with a broadly-tunable pulsewidth across two orders of magnitude down to 900 ps, a broadly-tunable repetition rate across three orders of magnitude up to 3 MHz, and a singly-polarized pulse train at 41 dB extinction ratio, about an order of magnitude larger than conventional pulsed fiber lasers. Moreover, our graphene-based pulse formation also demonstrates robust pulse-to-pulse stability and wide-wavelength operation due to the cavity-less feature. Such a graphene-based architecture not only provides a tunable pulsed random laser for fiber-optic sensing, speckle-free imaging, and laser-material processing, but also a new way for the non-random CW fiber lasers to generate widely tunable and singly-polarized pulses.

Generation, storage, and retrieval of nonclassical states of light using atomic ensembles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eisaman, Matthew D.

This thesis presents the experimental demonstration of several novel methods for generating, storing, and retrieving nonclassical states of light using atomic ensembles, and describes applications of these methods to frequency-tunable single-photon generation, single-photon memory, quantum networks, and long-distance quantum communication. We first demonstrate emission of quantum-mechanically correlated pulses of light with a time delay between the pulses that is coherently controlled by utilizing 87Rb atoms. The experiment is based on Raman scattering, which produces correlated pairs of excited atoms and photons, followed by coherent conversion of the atomic states into a different photon field after a controllable delay. We then describe experiments demonstrating a novel approach for conditionally generating nonclassical pulses of light with controllable photon numbers, propagation direction, timing, and pulse shapes. We observe nonclassical correlations in relative photon number between correlated pairs of photons, and create few-photon light pulses with sub-Poissonian photon-number statistics via conditional detection on one field of the pair. Spatio-temporal control over the pulses is obtained by exploiting long-lived coherent memory for photon states and electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in an optically dense atomic medium. Finally, we demonstrate the use of EIT for the controllable generation, transmission, and storage of single photons with tunable frequency, timing, and bandwidth. To this end, we study the interaction of single photons produced in a "source" ensemble of 87Rb atoms at room temperature with another "target" ensemble. This allows us to simultaneously probe the spectral and quantum statistical properties of narrow-bandwidth single-photon pulses, revealing that their quantum nature is preserved under EIT propagation and storage. We measure the time delay associated with the reduced group velocity of the single-photon pulses and report observations of their storage and retrieval. Together these experiments utilize atomic ensembles to realize a narrow-bandwidth single-photon source, single-photon memory that preserves the quantum nature of the single photons, and a primitive quantum network comprised of two atomic-ensemble quantum memories connected by a single photon in an optical fiber. Each of these experimental demonstrations represents an essential element for the realization of long-distance quantum communication.

Carbon Monoxide Exposure in Norwegian Rescue Helicopters.

PubMed

Busch, Michael

2015-01-01

Exposure to exhaust fumes from combustion engines can lead to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Sea King Rescue helicopter crews are frequently subjected to engine exhaust. This study investigates the extent of CO exposure and potential for intoxication for flight crews during standard operational training procedures. Over a 2-week period, rescue helicopter flight crews were monitored for exposure to exhaust fumes and clinical symptoms of CO intoxication by means of a written survey and measurements of carboxyhemoglobin saturation (SpCO) with a handheld pulse CO oximeter (RAD-57; Masimo, Irvine, CA). Normal ranges for SpCO were defined as ≤ 4%. Sixty-nine completed surveys and 138 SpCO measurements of 37 crewmembers were included in the study. Sixty-four percent (n = 44) experienced subjective exposure to engine exhaust during training. Clinical symptoms were reported in 8.6% (n = 6) and included exhaustion (n = 4), headache (n = 1), and nausea (n = 1). Twenty-nine percent (n = 20) showed postflight SpCO levels outside the normal range (≥ 4%). The maximum postflight SpCO level among all measurements was 7%. Exposure to engine fumes is common, even more so during open cargo door operations. However, clinical symptoms are infrequent and mild. Toxic SpCO levels were not reached in this study, but approximately one third of postflight SpCO levels were outside the normal range. Copyright © 2015 Air Medical Journal Associates. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Auger electron spectroscopy analysis for growth interface of cubic boron nitride single crystals synthesized under high pressure and high temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lv, Meizhe; Xu, Bin; Cai, Lichao; Guo, Xiaofei; Yuan, Xingdong

2018-05-01

After rapid cooling, cubic boron nitride (c-BN) single crystals synthesized under high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) are wrapped in the white film powders which are defined as growth interface. In order to make clear that the transition mechanism of c-BN single crystals, the variation of B and N atomic hybrid states in the growth interface is analyzed with the help of auger electron spectroscopy in the Li-based system. It is found that the sp2 fractions of B and N atoms decreases, and their sp3 fractions increases from the outer to the inner in the growth interface. In addition, Lithium nitride (Li3N) are not found in the growth interface by X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiment. It is suggested that lithium boron nitride (Li3BN2) is produced by the reaction of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and Li3N at the first step, and then B and N atoms transform from sp2 into sp3 state with the catalysis of Li3BN2 in c-BN single crystals synthesis process.

Control of DC gas flow in a single-stage double-inlet pulse tube cooler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, C.; Thummes, G.; Heiden, C.

The use of double-inlet mode in the pulse tube cooler opens up a possibility of DC gas flow circulating around the regenerator and pulse tube. Numerical analysis shows that effects of DC flow in a single-stage pulse tube cooler are different in some aspects from that in a 4 K pulse tube cooler. For highest cooler efficiency, DC flow should be compensated to a small value, i.e. DC flow over average AC flow at regenerator inlet should be in the range -0.0013 to +0.00016. Dual valves with reversed asymmetric geometries were used for the double-inlet bypass to control the DC flow in this paper. The experiment, performed in a single-stage double-inlet pulse tube cooler, verified that the cooler performance can be significantly improved by precisely controlling the DC flow.

Review of the Berosus Leach of Venezuela (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Berosini) with description of fourteen new species

PubMed Central

Oliva, Adriana; Short, Andrew E. Z.

2012-01-01

Abstract The species of the water scavenger beetle genus Berosus Leach occurring in Venezuela are reviewed. Thirty-six species are recorded, including fifteen new species, fourteen of which are described here as new: Berosus aragua sp. n., Berosus asymmetricus sp. n., Berosus capanaparo sp. n., Berosus castaneus sp. n., Berosus corozo sp. n., Berosus ebeninus sp. n., Berosus garciai sp. n., Berosus humeralis sp. n., Berosus jolyi sp. n., Berosus llanensis sp. n., Berosus megaphallus sp. n., Berosus ornaticollis sp. n., Berosus repertus sp. n., and Berosus tramidrum sp. n. The fifteenth new species, known from a single female, is left undescribed pending the collection of males. Twelve species are recorded from Venezuela for the first time: Berosus ambogynus Mouchamps, Berosus consobrinus Knisch, Berosus elegans Knisch, Berosus geayi d’Orchymont, Berosus ghanicus d’Orchymont, Berosus guyanensis Queney, Berosus holdhausi Knisch, Berosus marquardti Knisch, Berosus olivae Queney, Berosus reticulatus Knisch, Berosus wintersteineri Knisch, and Berosus zimmermanni Knisch. PMID:22811607

Local changes in arterial oxygen saturation induced by visible and near-infrared light radiation.

PubMed

Yesman, S S; Mamilov, S O; Veligotsky, D V; Gisbrecht, A I

2016-01-01

In this study, we investigate the efficiency of laser radiation on oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) rate in blood vessels and its wavelength dependence. The results of in vivo experimental measurements of the laser-induced photodissociation of HbO2 in cutaneous blood vessels in the visible and near-infrared (IR) spectral range are presented. Arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) was measured by a method of fingertip pulse oximetry, which is based on the measurement of the modulated pulse wave of the blood. The light irradiating the finger was provided by corresponding light-emitting diodes (LED) at 15 wavelengths in the 400-940 nm spectrum range. Statistical results with a value of p < 0.05 were viewed as being significant for all volunteers. The results show that there is a decrease in SpO2 in the blood under the influence of the transcutaneous laser irradiation. Three maxima in the spectral range (530, 600, and 850 nm) are revealed, wherein decrease in the relative concentration of SpO2 reaches 5 % ± 0.5 %. Near-IR radiation plays a dominant role in absorption of laser radiation by oxyhemoglobin in deeper layers of tissue blood vessels. The obtained data correlate with the processes of light propagation in biological tissue. The observed reduction in SpO2 indicates the process of photodissociation of HbO2 in vivo and may result in local increase in O2 in the tissue. Such laser-induced enrichment of tissue oxygenation can be used in phototherapy of pathologies, where the elimination of local tissue hypoxia is critical.

Field Emission and Nanostructure of Carbon Films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Merkulov, V.I.; Lowndes, D.H.; Baylor, L.R.

1999-11-29

The results of field emission measurements of various forms of carbon films are reported. It is shown that the films nanostructure is a crucial factor determining the field emission properties. In particular, smooth, pulsed-laser deposited amorphous carbon films with both high and low sp3 contents are poor field emitters. This is similar to the results obtained for smooth nanocrystalline, sp2-bonded carbon films. In contrast, carbon films prepared by hot-filament chemical vapor deposition (HE-CVD) exhibit very good field emission properties, including low emission turn-on fields, high emission site density, and excellent durability. HF-CVD carbon films were found to be predominantly sp2-bonded.more » However, surface morphology studies show that these films are thoroughly nanostructured, which is believed to be responsible for their promising field emission properties.« less

Pulsed ytterbium-doped fibre laser with a combined modulator based on single-wall carbon nanotubes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Khudyakov, D V; Borodkin, A A; Vartapetov, S K

2015-09-30

This paper describes an all-normal-dispersion pulsed ytterbium-doped fibre ring laser mode-locked by a nonlinear combined modulator based on single-wall carbon nanotubes. We have demonstrated 1.7-ps pulse generation at 1.04 μm with a repetition rate of 35.6 MHz. At the laser output, the pulses were compressed to 180 fs. We have examined an intracavity nonlinear modulator which utilises nonlinear polarisation ellipse rotation in conjunction with a saturable absorber in the form of a polymer-matrix composite film containing single-wall carbon nanotubes. (lasers)

Pulse patterning effect in optical pulse division multiplexing for flexible single wavelength multiple access optical network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, Sun-Young; Kim, Chang-Hun; Han, Sang-Kook

2018-05-01

A demand for high spectral efficiency requires multiple access within a single wavelength, but the uplink signals are significantly degraded because of optical beat interference (OBI) in intensity modulation/direct detection system. An optical pulse division multiplexing (OPDM) technique was proposed that could effectively reduce the OBI via a simple method as long as near-orthogonality is satisfied, but the condition was strict, and thus, the number of multiplexing units was very limited. We propose pulse pattern enhanced OPDM (e-OPDM) to reduce the OBI and improve the flexibility in multiple access within a single wavelength. The performance of the e-OPDM and patterning effect are experimentally verified after 23-km single mode fiber transmission. By employing pulse patterning in OPDM, the tight requirement was relaxed by extending the optical delay dynamic range. This could support more number of access with reduced OBI, which could eventually enhance a multiple access function.

Self-seeded single-frequency solid-state ring laser and system using same

DOEpatents

Dane, C. Brent; Hackel, Lloyd; Harris, Fritz B.

2007-02-20

A method of operating a laser to obtain an output pulse having a single wavelength, comprises inducing an intracavity loss into a laser resonator having an amount that prevents oscillation during a time that energy from the pump source is being stored in the gain medium. Gain is built up in the gain medium with energy from the pump source until formation of a single-frequency relaxation oscillation pulse in the resonator. Upon detection of the onset of the relaxation oscillation pulse, the intracavity loss is reduced, such as by Q-switching, so that the built-up gain stored in the gain medium is output from the resonator in the form of an output pulse at a single frequency. An electronically controllable output coupler is controlled to affect output pulse characteristics. The laser acts a master oscillator in a master oscillator power amplifier configuration. The laser is used for laser peening.

Self-seeded single-frequency laser peening method

DOEpatents

Dane, C Brent [Livermore, CA; Hackel, Lloyd [Livermore, CA; Harris, Fritz B [Rocklin, CA

2009-08-11

A method of operating a laser to obtain an output pulse having a single wavelength, comprises inducing an intracavity loss into a laser resonator having an amount that prevents oscillation during a time that energy from the pump source is being stored in the gain medium. Gain is built up in the gain medium with energy from the pump source until formation of a single-frequency relaxation oscillation pulse in the resonator. Upon detection of the onset of the relaxation oscillation pulse, the intracavity loss is reduced, such as by Q-switching, so that the built-up gain stored in the gain medium is output from the resonator in the form of an output pulse at a single frequency. An electronically controllable output coupler is controlled to affect output pulse characteristics. The laser acts a master oscillator in a master oscillator power amplifier configuration. The laser is used for laser peening.

Self-seeded single-frequency laser peening method

DOEpatents

DAne, C Brent; Hackey, Lloyd A; Harris, Fritz B

2012-06-26

A method of operating a laser to obtain an output pulse having a single wavelength, comprises inducing an intracavity loss into a laser resonator having an amount that prevents oscillation during a time that energy from the pump source is being stored in the gain medium. Gain is built up in the gain medium with energy from the pump source until formation of a single-frequency relaxation oscillation pulse in the resonator. Upon detection of the onset of the relaxation oscillation pulse, the intracavity loss is reduced, such as by Q-switching, so that the built-up gain stored in the gain medium is output from the resonator in the form of an output pulse at a single frequency. An electronically controllable output coupler is controlled to affect output pulse characteristics. The laser acts a master oscillator in a master oscillator power amplifier configuration. The laser is used for laser peening.

Proposal for the measuring molecular velocity vector with single-pulse coherent Raman spectroscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

She, C. Y.

1983-01-01

Methods for simultaneous measurements of more than one flow velocity component using coherent Raman spectroscopy are proposed. It is demonstrated that using a kilowatt broad-band probe pulse (3-30 GHz) along with a megawatt narrow-band pump pulse (approximately 100 MHz), coherent Raman signal resulting from a single laser pulse is sufficient to produce a high-resolution Raman spectrum for a velocity measurement.

A single-frequency Ho:YLF pulsed laser with frequency stability better than 500 kHz

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kucirek, P.; Meissner, A.; Nyga, S.; Mertin, J.; Höfer, M.; Hoffmann, H.-D.

2017-03-01

The spectral stability of a previously reported Ho:YLF single frequency pulsed laser oscillator emitting at 2051 nm is drastically improved by utilizing a narrow linewidth Optically Pumped Semiconductor Laser (OPSL) as a seed for the oscillator. The oscillator is pumped by a dedicated gain-switched Tm:YLF laser at 1890 nm. The ramp-and-fire method is employed for generating single frequency emission. The heterodyne technique is used to analyze the spectral properties. The laser is designed to meet a part of the specifications for future airborne or space borne LIDAR detection of CO2. Seeding with a DFB diode and with an OPSL are compared. With OPSL seeding an Allan deviation of the centroid of the spectral distribution of 38 kHz and 517 kHz over 10 seconds and 60 milliseconds of sampling time for single pulses is achieved. The spectral width is approximately 30 MHz. The oscillator emits 2 mJ pulse energy with 50 Hz pulse repetition frequency (PRF) and 20 ns pulse duration. The optical to optical efficiency of the Ho:YLF oscillator is 10 % and the beam quality is diffraction limited. To our knowledge this is the best spectral stability demonstrated to date for a Ho:YLF laser with millijoule pulse energy and nanosecond pulse duration.

Femtosecond laser processing of NiPd single and 5x(Ni/Pd) multilayer thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrović, S.; Gaković, B.; Zamfirescu, M.; Radu, C.; Peruško, D.; Radak, B.; Ristoscu, C.; Zdravković, S.; Luculescu, C. L.; Mihailescu, I. N.

2017-09-01

Modification of single and complex nickel-palladium samples by laser processing in the femtosecond time domain was studied. The samples were processed by focused Ti:Sapphire laser beam (Clark CPA-2101) with 775 nm laser wavelength, 2 kHz repetition rate, 200 fs pulse duration. The laser-induced morphological modifications have shown dependence on the applied fluences and number of laser pulses. The formed surface nanostructures on the single NiPd/Si and multilayer 5x(Ni/Pd)/Si systems are compared with individual Ni and Pd thin films. The results show an increase in surface roughness, formation of parallel periodic surface structures, appearance of hydrodynamic features and ablation of surface material. At low number of pulses (less than 10 pulses) and low pulse energies range (not over 1.7 μJ), the two types of laser-induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) can be observed: low and high spatial frequency LIPSS (HSFL and LSFL). For all samples, the measured LSFL periods were 720 nm for the ripples created solely on thin film surfaces during the single pulse action. In the case of the multi-pulse irradiation, the periodicities of created LSFLs on the all investigated thin films have shown tendency to reduction with increasing of pulse energies.

Measuring sperm whales from their clicks: Stability of interpulse intervals and validation that they indicate whale length

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rhinelander, Marcus Q.; Dawson, Stephen M.

2004-04-01

Multiple pulses can often be distinguished in the clicks of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus). Norris and Harvey [in Animal Orientation and Navigation, NASA SP-262 (1972), pp. 397-417] proposed that this results from reflections within the head, and thus that interpulse interval (IPI) is an indicator of head length, and by extrapolation, total length. For this idea to hold, IPIs must be stable within individuals, but differ systematically among individuals of different size. IPI stability was examined in photographically identified individuals recorded repeatedly over different dives, days, and years. IPI variation among dives in a single day and days in a single year was statistically significant, although small in magnitude (it would change total length estimates by <3%). As expected, IPIs varied significantly among individuals. Most individuals showed significant increases in IPIs over several years, suggesting growth. Mean total lengths calculated from published IPI regressions were 13.1 to 16.1 m, longer than photogrammetric estimates of the same whales (12.3 to 15.3 m). These discrepancies probably arise from the paucity of large (12-16 m) whales in data used in published regressions. A new regression is offered for this size range.

Toxicity of Single-dose Intramuscular Injection of Samjeong Pharmacopuncture in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

PubMed

Kwon, Kang; Kim, Chul-Yun; Kim, Nam-Kwen; Sun, Seung-Ho; Seo, Hyung-Sik

2015-06-01

This study was carried out in order to find both the single-dose intramuscular injection toxicity and the approximate lethal dose of samjeong pharmacopuncture (SP) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The SD rats in this study were divided into four groups, one control group (1.0 mL/animal, normal saline) and three experimental groups (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mL/animal, SP). All groups consisted of five male and five female rats. SP was injected as a single-dose intramuscularly at the thigh. After the injection, general symptoms and weight were observed for 14 days. After the observations had ended, hematologic and serum biochemical examinations, necropsy and a local tolerance test at the injection site were performed. The experiments were carried out at the Good Laboratory Practice firm, Biotoxtech Co. (Cheongwon, Chungbuk). Animal experiments were approved by the Ethics Committee (Approval Number: 130379). No deaths occurred in any of the three experimental groups. The injection of SP had no effects on the general symptoms, body weights, results of the hematologic, and serum biochemical examinations, and necropsy findings. In local tolerance tests at the injection sites, mild inflammation was observed in the experimental group, but it did not appear to be a treatment related effect. Under the conditions of this test, the results from the injection of SP suggest that the approximate lethal dose of SP is above 1.0 mL/animal for both male and female SD rats. Therefore, the clinical use of SP is thought to be safe.

Time stretch dispersive Fourier transform based single-shot pulse-by-pulse spectrum measurement using a pulse-repetition-frequency-variable gain-switched laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furukawa, Hideaki; Makino, Takeshi; Wang, Xiaomin; Kobayashi, Tetsuya; Asghari, Mohammad H.; Trinh, Paul; Jalali, Bahram; Man, Wai Sing; Tsang, Kwong Shing; Wada, Naoya

2018-02-01

The time stretch dispersive Fourier Transform (TS-DFT) technique based on a fiber chromatic dispersion is a powerful tool for pulse-by-pulse single-shot spectrum measurement for highrepetition rate optical pulses. The distributed feedback laser diode (DFB-LD) with the gain switch operation can flexibly change the pulse repetition frequency (PRF). In this paper, we newly introduce a semiconductor gain-switched DFB-LD operating from 1 MHz up to 1 GHz PRF into the TS-DFT based spectrum measurement system to improve the flexibility and the operability. The pulse width can be below 2 ps with a pulse compression technique. We successfully measure the spectrum of each optical pulse at 1 GHz, 100 MHz, and 10 MHz PRF, and demonstrate the flexibility of the measurement system.

High on/off ratio nanosecond laser pulses for a triggered single-photon source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Gang; Liu, Bei; He, Jun; Wang, Junmin

2016-07-01

An 852 nm nanosecond laser pulse chain with a high on/off ratio is generated by chopping a continuous-wave laser beam using a Mach-Zehnder-type electro-optic intensity modulator (MZ-EOIM). The detailed dependence of the MZ-EOIM’s on/off ratio on various parameters is characterized. By optimizing the incident beam polarization and stabilizing the MZ-EOIM temperature, a static on/off ratio of 12600:1 is achieved. The dynamic on/off ratios versus the pulse repetition rate and the pulse duty cycle are measured and discussed. The high-on/off-ratio nanosecond pulsed laser system was used in a triggered single-photon source based on a trapped single cesium atom, which reveals clear antibunching.

Asymmetric processing of a substrate protein in sequential allosteric cycles of AAA+ nanomachines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kravats, Andrea N.; Tonddast-Navaei, Sam; Bucher, Ryan J.; Stan, George

2013-09-01

Essential protein quality control includes mechanisms of substrate protein (SP) unfolding and translocation performed by powerful ring-shaped AAA+ (ATPases associated with various cellular activities) nanomachines. These SP remodeling actions are effected by mechanical forces imparted by AAA+ loops that protrude into the central channel. Sequential intra-ring allosteric motions, which underlie repetitive SP-loop interactions, have been proposed to comprise clockwise (CW), counterclockwise (CCW), or random (R) conformational transitions of individual AAA+ subunits. To probe the effect of these allosteric mechanisms on unfoldase and translocase functions, we perform Langevin dynamics simulations of a coarse-grained model of an all-alpha SP processed by the single-ring ClpY ATPase or by the double-ring p97 ATPase. We find that, in all three allosteric mechanisms, the SP undergoes conformational transitions along a common set of pathways, which reveals that the active work provided by the ClpY machine involves single loop-SP interactions. Nevertheless, the rates and yields of SP unfolding and translocation are controlled by mechanism-dependent loop-SP binding events, as illustrated by faster timescales of SP processing in CW allostery compared with CCW and R allostery. The distinct efficacy of allosteric mechanisms is due to the asymmetric collaboration of adjacent subunits, which involves CW-biased structural motions of AAA+ loops and results in CW-compatible torque applied onto the SP. Additional simulations of mutant ClpY rings, which render a subset of subunits catalytically-defective or reduce their SP binding affinity, reveal that subunit-based conformational transitions play the major role in SP remodeling. Based on these results we predict that the minimally functional AAA+ ring includes three active subunits, only two of which are adjacent.

15 mJ single-frequency Ho:YAG laser resonantly pumped by a 1.9 µm laser diode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Na, Q. X.; Gao, C. Q.; Wang, Q.; Zhang, Y. X.; Gao, M. W.; Ye, Q.; Li, Y.

2016-09-01

A 2.09 µm injection-seeded single-frequency Ho:YAG laser resonantly pumped by a 1.91 µm laser diode is demonstrated for the first time. The seed laser is a continuous wave (CW) Ho:YAG non-planar ring oscillator. 15.15 mJ single-frequency output energy is obtained from the injection-seeded Q-switched Ho:YAG laser, with a pulse repetition rate of 200 Hz and a pulse width of 109 ns. The half-width of the pulse spectrum is measured to be 4.19 MHz by using the heterodyne technique. The fluctuation of the center frequency of the single-frequency pulses is 1.52 MHz (root mean square (RMS)) in 1 h.

Sensitivity enhancements in MQ-MAS NMR of spin-5/2 nuclei using modulated rf mixing pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vosegaard, Thomas; Massiot, Dominique; Grandinetti, Philip J.

2000-08-01

An X- overlineX pulse train with stepped modulation frequency was employed to enhance the multiple-quantum to single-quantum coherence transfer in the mixing period of the multiple-quantum magic-angle spinning (MQ-MAS) experiment for spin I=5/2 nuclei. Two MQ-MAS pulse sequences employing this mixing scheme for the triple-to-single and quintuple-to-single quantum coherence transfers have been designed and their performance is demonstrated for 27Al on samples of NaSi 3AlO 8 and 9Al 2O 3·2B 2O 3 . Compared to the standard single-pulse mixing sequences, the sensitivity is approximately doubled in the present experiments.

1540-nm single frequency single-mode pulsed all fiber laser for coherent Doppler lidar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xin; Diao, Weifeng; Liu, Yuan; Liu, Jiqiao; Hou, Xia; Chen, Weibiao

2015-02-01

A single-mode single frequency eye-safe pulsed all fiber laser based on master oscillator power amplification structure is presented. This laser is composed of a narrow linewidth distributed laser diode seed laser and two-stage cascade amplifiers. 0.8 m longitudinally gradient strained erbium/ytterbium co-doped polarization-maintaining fiber with a core diameter of 10 μm is used as the gain fiber and two acoustic-optics modulators are adopted to enhance pulse extinction ratio. A peak power of 160 W and a pulse width of 200 ns at 10 kHz repetition rate are achieved with transform-limited linewidth and diffraction-limited beam quality. This laser will be employed in a compact short range coherent Doppler wind lidar.

National Register Testing of 19 Prehistoric Archeological Sites on Fort Hood, Texas: The 1995 Season

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-07-01

arboreal species include ash (Fraxinus sp.), redbud (Cercis canadensis), hack- berry (Celtis sp.), Texas persimmon ( Diospyros texana), and Mexican...from flotation of hearth fill were identified as Celtis sp. nutlets, woody legume, Rosaceae wood, and Diospyros virginiana wood, the latter...early 1990s. For consistency, all of their studies have focused on a single genus , Rabdotus sp., that is abundant in the archeological deposits at

Associations Between Arterial Oxygen Saturation, Body Size and Limb Measurements Among High-Altitude Andean Children

PubMed Central

Pomeroy, Emma; Stock, Jay T; Stanojevic, Sanja; Miranda, J Jaime; Cole, Tim J; Wells, Jonathan CK

2013-01-01

Objectives The relative influences of hypoxia and other environmental stressors on growth at altitude remain unclear. Previous work demonstrated an association between peripheral arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) and anthropometry (especially tibia length) among Tibetan and Han children at altitude. We investigated whether similar associations exist among Andeans, and the patterning of associations between SpO2 and anthropometry. Methods Stature, head-trunk height, total upper and lower limb lengths, zeugopod (ulna and tibia) and autopod (hand and foot) lengths were measured in Peruvian children (0.5–14 years) living at >3000 m altitude. SpO2 was measured by pulse oximetry. Anthropometry was converted to internal z scores. Correlation and multiple regression were used to examine associations between anthropometry z scores and SpO2, altitude, or SpO2 adjusted for altitude since altitude is a major determinant of variation in SpO2. Results SpO2 and altitude show weak, significant correlations with zeugopod length z scores and still weaker significant correlations with total upper and lower limb length z scores. Correlations with z scores for stature, head-trunk height, or autopod lengths are not significant. Adjusted for altitude, there is no significant association between anthropometry and SpO2. Conclusions Associations between SpO2 or altitude and total limb and zeugopod length z scores exist among Andean children. However, the relationships are relatively weak, and while the relationship between anthropometry and altitude may be partly mediated by SpO2, other factors that covary with altitude (e.g., socioeconomic status, health) are likely to influence anthropometry. The results support suggestions that zeugopod lengths are particularly sensitive to environmental stressors. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 25:629–636, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. PMID:23904412

A Novel Binary Mixture of Helicoverpa armigera Single Nucleopolyhedrovirus Genotypic Variants Has Improved Insecticidal Characteristics for Control of Cotton Bollworms.

PubMed

Arrizubieta, Maite; Simón, Oihane; Williams, Trevor; Caballero, Primitivo

2015-06-15

The genotypic diversity of two Spanish isolates of Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearSNPV) was evaluated with the aim of identifying mixtures of genotypes with improved insecticidal characteristics for control of the cotton bollworm. Two genotypic variants, HearSP1A and HearSP1B, were cloned in vitro from the most pathogenic wild-type isolate of the Iberian Peninsula, HearSNPV-SP1 (HearSP1-wt). Similarly, six genotypic variants (HearLB1 to -6) were obtained by endpoint dilution from larvae collected from cotton crops in southern Spain that died from virus disease during laboratory rearing. Variants differed significantly in their insecticidal properties, pathogenicity, speed of kill, and occlusion body (OB) production (OBs/larva). HearSP1B was ∼3-fold more pathogenic than HearSP1-wt and the other variants. HearLB1, HearLB2, HeaLB5, and HearLB6 were the fastest-killing variants. Moreover, although highly virulent, HearLB1, HearLB4, and HearLB5 produced more OBs/larva than did the other variants. The co-occluded HearSP1B:LB6 mixture at a 1:1 proportion was 1.7- to 2.8-fold more pathogenic than any single variant and other mixtures tested and also killed larvae as fast as the most virulent genotypes. Serial passage resulted in modified proportions of the component variants of the HearSP1B:LB6 co-occluded mixture, suggesting that transmissibility could be further improved by this process. We conclude that the improved insecticidal phenotype of the HearSP1B:LB6 co-occluded mixture underlines the utility of the genotypic variant dissection and reassociation approach for the development of effective virus-based insecticides. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Analysis of pulsed injection for microgravity receiver tank chilldown

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Honkonen, Scott C.; Pietrzyk, Joe R.; Schuster, John R.

The dominant heat transfer mechanism during the hold phase of a tank chilldown cycle in a low-gravity environment is due to fluid motion persistence following the charge. As compared to the single-charge per vent cycle case, pulsed injection maintains fluid motion and the associated high wall heat transfer coefficients during the hold phase. As a result, the pulsed injection procedure appears to be an attractive method for reducing the time and liquid mass required to chill a tank. However, for the representative conditions considered, no significant benefit can be realized by using pulsed injection as compared to the single-charge case. A numerical model of the charge/hold/vent process was used to evaluate the pulsed injection procedure for tank chilldown in microgravity. Pulsed injection results in higher average wall heat transfer coefficients during the hold, as compared to the single-charge case. However, these high levels were not coincident with the maximum wall-to-fluid temperature differences, as in the single-charge case. For representative conditions investigated, the charge/hold/vent process is very efficient. A slightly shorter chilldown time was realized by increasing the number of pulses.

Single-shot, high-resolution, fiber-based phase-diversity photodetection of optical pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dorrer, C.; Waxer, L. J.; Kalb, A.; Hill, E. M.; Bromage, J.

2016-03-01

Temporally characterizing optical pulses is an important task when building, optimizing, and using optical sources. Direct photodetection with high-bandwidth photodiodes and real-time oscilloscopes is only adequate for optical pulses longer than ~10 ps; diagnostics based on indirect strategies are required to characterize femtosecond and sub-10-ps coherent sources. Most of these diagnostics are based on nonlinear optics and can be difficult to implement for the single-shot characterization of nonrepetitive events. A temporal diagnostic based on phase diversity is demonstrated in the context of picosecond high-energy laser systems, where single-shot pulse measurements are required for system safety and interpretation of experimental results. A plurality of ancillary optical pulses obtained by adding known amounts of chromatic dispersion to the pulse under test are directly measured by photodetection and processed to reconstruct the input pulse shape. This high-sensitivity (~50-pJ) diagnostic is based on a pulse replicator composed of fiber splitters and delay fibers, making it possible to operate with fiber sources and free-space sources after fiber coupling. Experimental data obtained with a high-bandwidth real-time oscilloscope demonstrate accurate characterization of pulses from a high-energy chirped-pulse amplification system, even for pulses shorter than the photodetection impulse response.

Dual-pulse laser ignition of ethylene-air mixtures in a supersonic combustor.

PubMed

Yang, Leichao; An, Bin; Liang, Jianhan; Li, Xipeng; Wang, Zhenguo

2018-04-02

To reduce the energy of an individual laser pulse, dual-pulse laser ignitions (LIs) at various pulse intervals were investigated in a Mach 2.92 scramjet engine fueled with ethylene. For comparison, experiments on a single-pulse LI were also performed. Schlieren visualization and high-speed photography were employed to observe the ignition processes simultaneously. The results indicate that the energy of an individual laser pulse can be reduced by half via a dual-pulse LI method as compared with a single-pulse LI with the same total energy. The reduction of the individual laser pulse energy degrades the requirements on the laser source and the beam delivery system, which facilitates the practical application of LI in hypersonic vehicles. A pulse interval shorter than 40 μs is suggested for dual-pulse LI in the present study. Because of the intense heat loss and radical dissipation in high-speed flows, the pulse interval for dual-pulse LI should be short enough to narrow the spatial distribution of the initial flame kernel.

Efficient amplitude-modulated pulses for triple- to single-quantum coherence conversion in MQMAS NMR.

PubMed

Colaux, Henri; Dawson, Daniel M; Ashbrook, Sharon E

2014-08-07

The conversion between multiple- and single-quantum coherences is integral to many nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments of quadrupolar nuclei. This conversion is relatively inefficient when effected by a single pulse, and many composite pulse schemes have been developed to improve this efficiency. To provide the maximum improvement, such schemes typically require time-consuming experimental optimization. Here, we demonstrate an approach for generating amplitude-modulated pulses to enhance the efficiency of the triple- to single-quantum conversion. The optimization is performed using the SIMPSON and MATLAB packages and results in efficient pulses that can be used without experimental reoptimisation. Most significant signal enhancements are obtained when good estimates of the inherent radio-frequency nutation rate and the magnitude of the quadrupolar coupling are used as input to the optimization, but the pulses appear robust to reasonable variations in either parameter, producing significant enhancements compared to a single-pulse conversion, and also comparable or improved efficiency over other commonly used approaches. In all cases, the ease of implementation of our method is advantageous, particularly for cases with low sensitivity, where the improvement is most needed (e.g., low gyromagnetic ratio or high quadrupolar coupling). Our approach offers the potential to routinely improve the sensitivity of high-resolution NMR spectra of nuclei and systems that would, perhaps, otherwise be deemed "too challenging".

Efficient Amplitude-Modulated Pulses for Triple- to Single-Quantum Coherence Conversion in MQMAS NMR

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

The conversion between multiple- and single-quantum coherences is integral to many nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments of quadrupolar nuclei. This conversion is relatively inefficient when effected by a single pulse, and many composite pulse schemes have been developed to improve this efficiency. To provide the maximum improvement, such schemes typically require time-consuming experimental optimization. Here, we demonstrate an approach for generating amplitude-modulated pulses to enhance the efficiency of the triple- to single-quantum conversion. The optimization is performed using the SIMPSON and MATLAB packages and results in efficient pulses that can be used without experimental reoptimisation. Most significant signal enhancements are obtained when good estimates of the inherent radio-frequency nutation rate and the magnitude of the quadrupolar coupling are used as input to the optimization, but the pulses appear robust to reasonable variations in either parameter, producing significant enhancements compared to a single-pulse conversion, and also comparable or improved efficiency over other commonly used approaches. In all cases, the ease of implementation of our method is advantageous, particularly for cases with low sensitivity, where the improvement is most needed (e.g., low gyromagnetic ratio or high quadrupolar coupling). Our approach offers the potential to routinely improve the sensitivity of high-resolution NMR spectra of nuclei and systems that would, perhaps, otherwise be deemed “too challenging”. PMID:25047226

Pulsed Magnetic Field Driven Gas Core Reactors for Space Power & Propulsion Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anghaie, Samim; Smith, Blair; Knight, Travis; Butler, Carey

2003-01-01

The present results indicated that: 1. A pulsed magnetic driven fission power concept, PMD-GCR is developed for closed (NER) and semi-open (NTR) operations. 2. In power mode, power is generated at alpha less than 1 for power levels of hundreds of KW or higher 3. IN semi open NTR mode, PMD-GCR generates thrust at I(sub sp) approx. 5,000 s and jet power approx. 5KW/Kg. 4. PMD-GCR is highly subcritical and is actively driven to critically. 5. Parallel path with fusion R&D needs in many areas including magnet and plasma.

Draft genome sequence of Thauera sp. strain SWB20, isolated from a Singapore wastewater treatment facility using gel microdroplets

DOE PAGES

Dichosa, Armand E. K.; Davenport, Karen W.; Li, Po-E; ...

2015-03-19

In this study, we report here the genome sequence of Thauera sp. strain SWB20, isolated from a Singaporean wastewater treatment facility using gel microdroplets (GMDs) and single-cell genomics (SCG). This approach provided a single clonal microcolony that was sufficient to obtain a 4.9-Mbp genome assembly of an ecologically relevant Thauera species.

Self-pulsing in a 2 km single-mode fiber with the seed source broadened via WNS phase modulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zha, Congwen; Sun, Yinhong; Wang, Yanshan; Li, Tenglong; Peng, Wanjing; Ma, Yi; Zhang, Kai

2018-03-01

The seed source with spectral linewidth broadening via phase modulation is potential to achieve the higher output power with effective SBS suppression. However, self-pulsing from the amplifier output is harmful. In this work, we study the self-pulsing characteristics in a long single-mode fiber with lower self-pulsing threshold instead of the high power amplifier. We provide a powerful experimental support for the self-pulsing mechanism in high-power narrow-linewidth fiber lasers, which is important for further output power scaling.

[Precision and accuracy of "a pocket" pulse oximeter in Mexico City].

PubMed

Torre-Bouscoulet, Luis; Chávez-Plascencia, Elizabeth; Vázquez-García, Juan Carlos; Pérez-Padilla, Rogelio

2006-01-01

Pulse oximeters are frequently used in the clinical practice and we must known their precision and accuracy. The objective was to evaluate the precision and accuracy of a "pocket" pulse oximeter at an altitude of 2,240 m above sea level. We tested miniature pulse oximeters (Onyx 9,500, Nonin Finger Pulse Oximeter) in 96 patients sent to the pulmonary laboratory for an arterial blood sample. Patients were tested with 5 pulse oximeters placed in each of the fingers of the hand oposite to that used for the arterial puncture. The gold standard was the oxygen saturation of the arterial blood sample. Blood samples had SaO2 of 87.2 +/- 11.0 (between 42.2 and 97.9%). Pulse oximeters had a mean error of 0.28 +/- 3.1%. SaO2 = (1.204 x SpO2) - 17.45966 (r = 0.92, p < 0.0001). Intraclass correlation coefficient between each of five pulse oximeters against the arterial blood standard ranged between 0.87 and 0.99. HbCO (2.4 +/- 0.6) did not affect the accuracy. The miniature oximeter Nonin is precise and accurate at 2,240 m of altitude. The observed levels of HbCO did not affect the performance of the equipment. The oximeter good performance, small size and low cost enhances its clinical usefulness.

Measurement of Work Generation and Improvement in Performance of a Pulse Tube Engine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamaguchi, Kazuhiro; Futagi, Hiroaki; Yazaki, Taichi; Hiratsuka, Yoshikatsu

Apart from double acting type engines, Stirling engines have either 2 pistons in 2 cylinders or 2 pistons in a single cylinder. Typically, the heater, regenerator and cooler are installed between the 2 pistons. The pulse tube engine, on the other hand, consists of a single piston in a single cylinder, a pulse tube, a heater, a regenerator, a cooler and a second cooler. For this paper, a simple prototype engine that uses air at normal atmospheric pressure as the working gas was fabricated. The oscillating velocity of the working gas in the pulse tube was measured using LDV, and the work flow emitting out of the pulse tube was observed. In addition, the effect of inserting heat storage material in the pulse tube on shaft power and indicated power was examined experimentally. A dramatic increase in the shaft power was achieved.

Signatures of two-photon pulses from a quantum two-level system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fischer, Kevin A.; Hanschke, Lukas; Wierzbowski, Jakob; Simmet, Tobias; Dory, Constantin; Finley, Jonathan J.; Vučković, Jelena; Müller, Kai

2017-07-01

A two-level atom can generate a strong many-body interaction with light under pulsed excitation. The best known effect is single-photon generation, where a short Gaussian laser pulse is converted into a Lorentzian single-photon wavepacket. However, recent studies suggested that scattering of intense laser fields off a two-level atom may generate oscillations in two-photon emission that come out of phase with the Rabi oscillations, as the power of the pulse increases. Here, we provide an intuitive explanation for these oscillations using a quantum trajectory approach and show how they may preferentially result in emission of two-photon pulses. Experimentally, we observe the signatures of these oscillations by measuring the bunching of photon pulses scattered off a two-level quantum system. Our theory and measurements provide insight into the re-excitation process that plagues on-demand single-photon sources while suggesting the possibility of producing new multi-photon states.

Complete quantum control of a single quantum dot spin using ultrafast optical pulses.

PubMed

Press, David; Ladd, Thaddeus D; Zhang, Bingyang; Yamamoto, Yoshihisa

2008-11-13

A basic requirement for quantum information processing systems is the ability to completely control the state of a single qubit. For qubits based on electron spin, a universal single-qubit gate is realized by a rotation of the spin by any angle about an arbitrary axis. Driven, coherent Rabi oscillations between two spin states can be used to demonstrate control of the rotation angle. Ramsey interference, produced by two coherent spin rotations separated by a variable time delay, demonstrates control over the axis of rotation. Full quantum control of an electron spin in a quantum dot has previously been demonstrated using resonant radio-frequency pulses that require many spin precession periods. However, optical manipulation of the spin allows quantum control on a picosecond or femtosecond timescale, permitting an arbitrary rotation to be completed within one spin precession period. Recent work in optical single-spin control has demonstrated the initialization of a spin state in a quantum dot, as well as the ultrafast manipulation of coherence in a largely unpolarized single-spin state. Here we demonstrate complete coherent control over an initialized electron spin state in a quantum dot using picosecond optical pulses. First we vary the intensity of a single optical pulse to observe over six Rabi oscillations between the two spin states; then we apply two sequential pulses to observe high-contrast Ramsey interference. Such a two-pulse sequence realizes an arbitrary single-qubit gate completed on a picosecond timescale. Along with the spin initialization and final projective measurement of the spin state, these results demonstrate a complete set of all-optical single-qubit operations.

A superhard sp3 microporous carbon with direct bandgap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Yilong; Xie, Chenlong; Xiong, Mei; Ma, Mengdong; Liu, Lingyu; Li, Zihe; Zhang, Shuangshuang; Gao, Guoying; Zhao, Zhisheng; Tian, Yongjun; Xu, Bo; He, Julong

2017-12-01

Carbon allotropes with distinct sp, sp2, and sp3 hybridization possess various different properties. Here, a novel all-sp3 hybridized tetragonal carbon, namely the P carbon, was predicted by the evolutionary particle swarm structural search. It demonstrated a low density among all-sp3 carbons, due to the corresponding distinctive microporous structure. P carbon is thermodynamically stable than the known C60 and could be formed through the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) compression. P carbon is a direct bandgap semiconductor displaying a strong and superhard nature. The unique combination of electrical and mechanical properties constitutes P carbon a potential superhard material for semiconductor industrial fields.

Effects of single pulse energy on the properties of ceramic coating prepared by micro-arc oxidation on Ti alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jun-Hua; Wang, Jin; Lu, Yan; Du, Mao-Hua; Han, Fu-Zhu

2015-01-01

The effects of single pulse energy on the properties of ceramic coating fabricated on a Ti-6Al-4V alloy via micro-arc oxidation (MAO) in aqueous solutions containing aluminate, phosphate, and some additives are investigated. The thickness, micro-hardness, surface and cross-sectional morphology, surface roughness, and compositions of the ceramic coating are studied using eddy current thickness meter, micro-hardness tester, JB-4C Precision Surface roughness meter, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Single pulse energy remarkably influences the ceramic coating properties. The accumulative time of impulse width is an important parameter in the scientific and rational measurement of the film forming law of ceramic coating. The ceramic coating thickness approximately linearly increases with the cumulative time of impulse width. Larger impulse width resulted in higher single pulse energy, film forming rates and thicker ceramic coating thickness. The sizes of oxide particles, micro-pores and micro-cracks slightly increase with impulse width and single pulse energy. The main surface conversion products generated during MAO process in aqueous solutions containing aluminate are rutile TiO2, anatase TiO2, and a large amount of Al2TiO5. The effects of single pulse energy on the micro-hardness and phase composition of ceramic coating are not as evident as those of frequency and duty cycle.

Additional conformer observed in the microwave spectrum of methyl vinyl ketone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilcox, David S.; Shirar, Amanda J.; Williams, Owen L.; Dian, Brian C.

2011-05-01

A chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectrometer was used to record the rotational spectrum of methyl vinyl ketone (MVK, 3-butene-2-one). Two stable conformations were identified: the previously documented antiperiplanar (ap) conformer and synperiplanar (sp), which is reported for the first time in this microwave study. Methyl torsional analysis resulted in V3 barrier heights of 433.8(1) and 376.6(2) cm-1 for ap- and sp-MVK, respectively. Heavy atom isotopic species of both conformers were detected in natural abundance allowing bond lengths and angles of the molecular frames to be calculated through Kraitchman analysis. A comparison with ab initio calculations is included.

Laboratory Characterization of Solid Grade SW Brick

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-08-01

Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D 2216 (ASTM 2002e). Based on the appropriate values of posttest water content, wet density, and an assumed...strain path (UX/SP) tests. In addition to the mechanical property tests, nondestructive pulse-velocity measurements were performed on each specimen...Figure 3. Spring-arm lateral deformeter mounted on test specimen

Missing pulse detector for a variable frequency source

DOEpatents

Ingram, Charles B.; Lawhorn, John H.

1979-01-01

A missing pulse detector is provided which has the capability of monitoring a varying frequency pulse source to detect the loss of a single pulse or total loss of signal from the source. A frequency-to-current converter is used to program the output pulse width of a variable period retriggerable one-shot to maintain a pulse width slightly longer than one-half the present monitored pulse period. The retriggerable one-shot is triggered at twice the input pulse rate by employing a frequency doubler circuit connected between the one-shot input and the variable frequency source being monitored. The one-shot remains in the triggered or unstable state under normal conditions even though the source period is varying. A loss of an input pulse or single period of a fluctuating signal input will cause the one-shot to revert to its stable state, changing the output signal level to indicate a missing pulse or signal.

Filtered pulsed cathodic arc deposition of fullerene-like carbon and carbon nitride films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tucker, Mark D., E-mail: martu@ifm.liu.se; Broitman, Esteban; Näslund, Lars-Åke

Carbon and carbon nitride films (CN{sub x}, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.26) were deposited by filtered pulsed cathodic arc and were investigated using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A “fullerene-like” (FL) structure of ordered graphitic planes, similar to that of magnetron sputtered FL-CN{sub x} films, was observed in films deposited at 175 °C and above, with N{sub 2} pressures of 0 and 0.5 mTorr. Higher substrate temperatures and significant nitrogen incorporation are required to produce similar FL structure by sputtering, which may, at least in part, be explained by the high ion charge states and ion energies characteristic of arc deposition. A gradualmore » transition from majority sp{sup 3}-hybridized films to sp{sup 2} films was observed with increasing substrate temperature. High elastic recovery, an attractive characteristic mechanical property of FL-CN{sub x} films, is evident in arc-deposited films both with and without nitrogen content, and both with and without FL structure.« less

Single-shot temporal characterization of kilojoule-level, picosecond pulses on OMEGA EP

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Waxer, Leon; Dorrer, Christophe; Kalb, Adam

To achieve a variety of experimental conditions, the OMEGA EP laser provides kilojoule-level pulses over a pulse-width range of 0.6 to 100 ps. Precise knowledge of the pulse width is important for laser system safety and the interpretation of experimental results. This paper describes the development and implementation of a single-shot, ultrashort-pulse measurement diagnostic, which provides an accurate characterization of the output pulse shape. We also present a brief overview of the measurement algorithm; discuss design considerations necessary for implementation in a complex, user-facility environment; and review the results of the diagnostic commissioning shots, which demonstrated excellent agreement with predictions.

Single-shot temporal characterization of kilojoule-level, picosecond pulses on OMEGA EP

DOE PAGES

Waxer, Leon; Dorrer, Christophe; Kalb, Adam; ...

2018-02-19

To achieve a variety of experimental conditions, the OMEGA EP laser provides kilojoule-level pulses over a pulse-width range of 0.6 to 100 ps. Precise knowledge of the pulse width is important for laser system safety and the interpretation of experimental results. This paper describes the development and implementation of a single-shot, ultrashort-pulse measurement diagnostic, which provides an accurate characterization of the output pulse shape. We also present a brief overview of the measurement algorithm; discuss design considerations necessary for implementation in a complex, user-facility environment; and review the results of the diagnostic commissioning shots, which demonstrated excellent agreement with predictions.

Laser-induced periodic surface structures on titanium upon single- and two-color femtosecond double-pulse irradiation.

PubMed

Höhm, Sandra; Rosenfeld, Arkadi; Krüger, Jörg; Bonse, Jörn

2015-10-05

Single- and two-color double-fs-pulse experiments were performed on titanium to study the dynamics of the formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS). A Mach-Zehnder inter-ferometer generated polarization controlled (parallel or cross-polarized) double-pulse sequences in two configurations - either at 800 nm only, or at 400 and 800 nm wavelengths. The inter-pulse delays of the individual 50-fs pulses ranged up to some tens of picoseconds. Multiple of these single- or two-color double-fs-pulse sequences were collinearly focused by a spherical mirror to the sample surface. In both experimental configurations, the peak fluence of each individual pulse was kept below its respective ablation threshold and only the joint action of both pulses lead to the formation of LIPSS. Their resulting characteristics were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and the periods were quantified by Fourier analyses. The LIPSS periods along with the orientation allow a clear identification of the pulse which dominates the energy coupling to the material. A plasmonic model successfully explains the delay-dependence of the LIPSS on titanium and confirms the importance of the ultrafast energy deposition stage for LIPSS formation.

Characterization of x-ray framing cameras for the National Ignition Facility using single photon pulse height analysis.

PubMed

Holder, J P; Benedetti, L R; Bradley, D K

2016-11-01

Single hit pulse height analysis is applied to National Ignition Facility x-ray framing cameras to quantify gain and gain variation in a single micro-channel plate-based instrument. This method allows the separation of gain from detectability in these photon-detecting devices. While pulse heights measured by standard-DC calibration methods follow the expected exponential distribution at the limit of a compound-Poisson process, gain-gated pulse heights follow a more complex distribution that may be approximated as a weighted sum of a few exponentials. We can reproduce this behavior with a simple statistical-sampling model.

Monolithic all-fiber repetition-rate tunable gain-switched single-frequency Yb-doped fiber laser.

PubMed

Hou, Yubin; Zhang, Qian; Qi, Shuxian; Feng, Xian; Wang, Pu

2016-12-12

We report a monolithic gain-switched single-frequency Yb-doped fiber laser with widely tunable repetition rate. The single-frequency laser operation is realized by using an Yb-doped distributed Bragg reflection (DBR) fiber cavity, which is pumped by a commercial-available laser diode (LD) at 974 nm. The LD is electronically modulated by the driving current and the diode output contains both continuous wave (CW) and pulsed components. The CW component is set just below the threshold of the single-frequency fiber laser for reducing the requirement of the pump pulse energy. Above the threshold, the gain-switched oscillation is trigged by the pulsed component of the diode. Single-frequency pulsed laser output is achieved at 1.063 μm with a pulse duration of ~150 ns and a linewidth of 14 MHz. The repetition rate of the laser output can be tuned between 10 kHz and 400 kHz by tuning the electronic trigger signal. This kind of lasers shows potential for the applications in the area of coherent LIDAR etc.

Single Frequency, Pulsed Laser Diode Transmitter for Dial Water Vapor Measurements at 935nm

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Switzer, Gregg W.; Cornwell, Donald M., Jr.; Krainak, Michael A.; Abshire, James B.; Rall, Johnathan A. R.

1998-01-01

We report a tunable, single frequency, narrow linewidth, pulsed laser diode transmitter at 935.68nm for remote sensing of atmospheric water vapor. The transmitter consists of a CW, tunable, external cavity diode laser whose output is amplified 2OdB using a tapered diode amplifier. The output is pulsed for range resolved DIAL lidar by pulsing the drive current to the diode amplifier at 4kHz with a .5% duty cycle. The output from the transmitter is 36OnJ/pulse and is single spatial mode. It maintains a linewidth of less than 25MHz as its wavelength is tuned across the water vapor absorption line at 935.68nm. The transmitter design and its use in a water vapor measurement will be discussed.

A pulsed single-frequency Nd:GGG/BaWO4 Raman laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zhaojun; Men, Shaojie; Cong, Zhenhua; Qin, Zengguang; Zhang, Xingyu; Zhang, Huaijin

2018-04-01

A single-frequency pulsed laser at 1178.3 nm was demonstrated in a crystalline Raman laser. A crystal combination of Nd:GGG and BaWO4 was selected to realize Raman conversion from a 1062.5 nm fundamental wave to a 1178.3 nm Stokes wave. An entangled cavity was specially designed to form an intracavity Raman configuration. Single-longitudinal-mode operation was realized by introducing two Fabry-Perot etalons into the Raman laser cavity. This laser operated at a pulse repetition rate of 50 Hz with 2 ms long envelopes containing micro pulses at a 30 kHz repetition rate. The highest output power was 41 mW with the micro pulse duration of 15 ns. The linewidth was measured to be less than 130 MHz.

0.4 mJ quasi-continuously pumped picosecond Nd:GdVO4 laser with selectable pulse duration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kubeček, V.; Jelínek, M.; Čech, M.; Hiršl, P.; Diels, J.-C.

2010-02-01

A quasi-continuously pumped picosecond oscillator-amplifier Nd:GdVO4 laser system based on two identical slabs in a single bounce geometry is reported. Pulse duration is from 160 to 55 ps resulting from the pulse shortening along the extended mode locked train from passively mode locked oscillator, which was measured directly from a single laser shot. The shortest 55 ps long cavity dumped single pulses from the oscillator with the energy of 15±1 μJ and the contrast better than 10-3 were amplified to the energy of 150 μJ with the contrast better than 10-3 after the single-pass amplification and to the energy of 400 μJ after the double-pass amplification.

Work on a quantum dipole by a single-photon pulse.

PubMed

Valente, D; Brito, F; Ferreira, R; Werlang, T

2018-06-01

Energy transfer from a quantized field to a quantized dipole is investigated. We find that a single photon can transfer energy to a two-level dipole by inducing a dynamic Stark shift, going beyond the well-known absorption and emission processes. A quantum thermodynamical perspective allows us to unravel these two energy transfer mechanisms and to identify the former as a generalized work and the latter as a generalized heat. We show two necessary conditions for the generalized work transfer by a single photon to occur, namely, off-resonance and finite linewidth of the pulse. We also show that the generalized work performed by a single-photon pulse equals the reactive (dispersive) contribution of the work performed by a semiclassical pulse in the low-excitation regime.

Quantum Yield of Single Surface Plasmons Generated by a Quantum Dot Coupled with a Silver Nanowire.

PubMed

Li, Qiang; Wei, Hong; Xu, Hongxing

2015-12-09

The interactions between surface plasmons (SPs) in metal nanostructures and excitons in quantum emitters (QEs) lead to many interesting phenomena and potential applications that are strongly dependent on the quantum yield of SPs. The difficulty in distinguishing all the possible exciton recombination channels hinders the experimental determination of SP quantum yield. Here, we experimentally measured for the first time the quantum yield of single SPs generated by the exciton-plasmon coupling in a system composed of a single quantum dot and a silver nanowire (NW). By utilizing the SP guiding property of the NW, the decay rates of all the exciton recombination channels, i.e., direct free space radiation channel, SP generation channel, and nonradiative damping channel, are quantitatively obtained. It is determined that the optimum emitter-NW coupling distance for the largest SP quantum yield is about 10 nm, resulting from the different distance-dependent decay rates of the three channels. These results are important for manipulating the coupling between plasmonic nanostructures and QEs and developing on-chip quantum plasmonic devices for potential nanophotonic and quantum information applications.

Combining Raman and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy by double pulse lasing.

PubMed

Lednev, Vasily N; Pershin, Sergey M; Sdvizhenskii, Pavel A; Grishin, Mikhail Ya; Fedorov, Alexander N; Bukin, Vladimir V; Oshurko, Vadim B; Shchegolikhin, Alexander N

2018-01-01

A new approach combining Raman spectrometry and laser induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) within a single laser event was suggested. A pulsed solid state Nd:YAG laser running in double pulse mode (two frequency-doubled sequential nanosecond laser pulses with dozens microseconds delay) was used to combine two spectrometry methods within a single instrument (Raman/LIBS spectrometer). First, a low-energy laser pulse (power density far below ablation threshold) was used for Raman measurements while a second powerful laser pulse created the plasma suitable for LIBS analysis. A short time delay between two successive pulses allows measuring LIBS and Raman spectra at different moments but within a single laser flash-lamp pumping. Principal advantages of the developed instrument include high quality Raman/LIBS spectra acquisition (due to optimal gating for Raman/LIBS independently) and absence of target thermal alteration during Raman measurements. A series of high quality Raman and LIBS spectra were acquired for inorganic salts (gypsum, anhydrite) as well as for pharmaceutical samples (acetylsalicylic acid). To the best of our knowledge, the quantitative analysis feasibility by combined Raman/LIBS instrument was demonstrated for the first time by calibration curves construction for acetylsalicylic acid (Raman) and copper (LIBS) in gypsum matrix. Combining ablation pulses and Raman measurements (LIBS/Raman measurements) within a single instrument makes it an efficient tool for identification of samples hidden by non-transparent covering or performing depth profiling analysis including remote sensing. Graphical abstract Combining Raman and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy by double pulse lasing.

Controllable Si (100) micro/nanostructures by chemical-etching-assisted femtosecond laser single-pulse irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiaowei; Xie, Qian; Jiang, Lan; Han, Weina; Wang, Qingsong; Wang, Andong; Hu, Jie; Lu, Yongfeng

2017-05-01

In this study, silicon micro/nanostructures of controlled size and shape are fabricated by chemical-etching-assisted femtosecond laser single-pulse irradiation, which is a flexible, high-throughput method. The pulse fluence is altered to create various laser printing patterns for the etching mask, resulting in the sequential evolution of three distinct surface micro/nanostructures, namely, ring-like microstructures, flat-top pillar microstructures, and spike nanostructures. The characterized diameter of micro/nanostructures reveals that they can be flexibly tuned from the micrometer (˜2 μm) to nanometer (˜313 nm) scales by varying the laser pulse fluence in a wide range. Micro-Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy are utilized to demonstrate that the phase state changes from single-crystalline silicon (c-Si) to amorphous silicon (a-Si) after single-pulse femtosecond laser irradiation. This amorphous layer with a lower etching rate then acts as a mask in the wet etching process. Meanwhile, the on-the-fly punching technique enables the efficient fabrication of large-area patterned surfaces on the centimeter scale. This study presents a highly efficient method of controllably manufacturing silicon micro/nanostructures with different single-pulse patterns, which has promising applications in the photonic, solar cell, and sensors fields.

Experimental Demonstration of Quantum Stationary Light Pulses in an Atomic Ensemble

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Kwang-Kyoon; Cho, Young-Wook; Chough, Young-Tak; Kim, Yoon-Ho

2018-04-01

We report an experimental demonstration of the nonclassical stationary light pulse (SLP) in a cold atomic ensemble. A single collective atomic excitation is created and heralded by detecting a Stokes photon in the spontaneous Raman scattering process. The heralded single atomic excitation is converted into a single stationary optical excitation or the single-photon SLP, whose effective group velocity is zero, effectively forming a trapped single-photon pulse within the cold atomic ensemble. The single-photon SLP is then released from the atomic ensemble as an anti-Stokes photon after a specified trapping time. The second-order correlation measurement between the Stokes and anti-Stokes photons reveals the nonclassical nature of the single-photon SLP. Our work paves the way toward quantum nonlinear optics without a cavity.

Q-switched and mode-locked Er{sup 3+}-doped fibre laser using a single-multi-single fibre filter and piezoelectric

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ji Wang; Yunjun Zhang; Aotuo Dong

2014-04-28

The active Q-switched and passive mode-locked Er{sup 3+}-doped all-fibre laser is presented. The fibre laser centre wavelength is located at 1563 nm and determined by the homemade singlemulti- single (SMS) in-line fibre filter. The laser spectrum width is nearly 0.1 nm. The active Q-switched mechanism relies on the polarisation state control using a piezoelectric to press a segment of passive fibre on the circular cavity. The nonlinear polarisation rotation technology is used to realise the passive self-started modelocked operation. In the passive mode-locked regimes, the output average power is 2.1 mW, repetition frequency is 11.96 MHz, and single pulse energymore » is 0.18 nJ. With the 100-Hz Q-switched regimes running, the output average power is 1.5 mW. The total Q-switched pulse width is 15 μs, and every Q-switched pulse is made up by several tens of mode-locked peak pulses. The calculated output pulse energy of the Q-switched fibre laser is about 15 μJ, and the energy of every mode-locked pulse is about 64–68 nJ during a Q-switched pulse taking into account the power fraction propagating between pulses. (lasers)« less

Ring laser having an output at a single frequency

DOEpatents

Hackell, Lloyd A.

1991-01-01

A ring laser is disclosed that produces a single frequency of laser radiation in either the pulsed mode of operation or the continuous waveform (cw) mode of operation. The laser comprises a ring laser in a bowtie configuration, a birefringent gain material such as Nd:YLF, an improved optical diode that supports laser oscillation having a desired direction of travel and linear polarization, and a Q-switch. An output coupler (mirror) having a high reflectivity, such as 94%, is disclosed. Also disclosed is a self-seeded method of operation in which the laser can provide a pulse or a series of pulses of high power laser radiation at a consistent single frequency with a high degree of amplitude stability and temporal stability. In operation, the laser is operated in continuous waveform (cw) at a low power output with the Q-switch introducing a loss into the resonating cavity. Pumping is continued at a high level, causing the gain material to store energy. When a pulse is desired, the Q-switch is actuated to substantially reduce the losses so that a pulse can build up based on the low level cw oscillation. The pulse quickly builds, using the stored energy in the gain medium to provide a high power output pulse. The process may be repeated to provide a series of high power pulses of a consistent single frequency.

Laser chirp effect on femtosecond laser filamentation generated for pulse compression.

PubMed

Park, Juyun; Lee, Jae-Hwan; Nam, Chang H

2008-03-31

The influence of laser chirp on the formation of femtosecond laser filamentation in Ar was investigated for the generation of few-cycle high-power laser pulses. The condition for the formation of a single filament has been carefully examined using 28-fs laser pulses with energy over 3 mJ. The filament formation and output spectrum changed very sensitively to the initial laser chirp and gas pressure. Much larger spectral broadening was obtained with positively chirped pulses, compared to the case of negatively chirped pulses that generated much longer filament, and compressed pulses of 5.5 fs with energy of 0.5 mJ were obtained from the filamentation of positively chirped 30-fs laser pulses in a single Ar cell.

Improved accuracy of methemoglobin detection by pulse CO-oximetry during hypoxia.

PubMed

Feiner, John R; Bickler, Philip E

2010-11-01

Methemoglobin in the blood cannot be detected by conventional pulse oximetry and may bias the oximeter's estimate (Spo(2)) of the true arterial functional oxygen saturation (Sao(2)). A recently introduced "pulse CO-oximeter" (Masimo Rainbow SET® Radical-7) that measures SpMet, a noninvasive measurement of the percentage of methemoglobin in arterial blood (%MetHb), was shown to read spuriously high values during hypoxia. In this study we sought to determine whether the manufacturer's modifications have improved the device's ability to detect and accurately measure methemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin simultaneously. Twelve healthy adult volunteer subjects were fitted with sensors on the middle finger of each hand, and a radial arterial catheter was placed for blood sampling. Intravenous administration of ∼300 mg of sodium nitrite elevated subjects' methemoglobin levels to a 7% to 11% target level, and hypoxia was induced to different levels of Sao(2) (70% to 100%) by varying fractional inspired oxygen. Pulse CO-oximeter readings were compared with arterial blood values measured with a Radiometer ABL800 FLEX multi-wavelength oximeter. Pulse CO-oximeter methemoglobin reading performance was analyzed by the bias (SpMet-%MetHb), and by observing the incidence of meaningful reading errors and predictive value at the various hypoxia levels. Spo(2) bias (Spo(2)--Sao(2)), precision, and root-mean-square error were evaluated during conditions of elevated methemoglobin. Observations spanned 74% to 100% Sao(2) and 0.4% to 14.4% methemoglobin with 307 blood draws and 602 values from the 2 oximeters. Masimo methemoglobin reading bias and precision over the full Sao(2) span was 0.16% and 0.83%, respectively, and was similar across the span. Masimo Spo(2) readings were biased -1.93% across the 70% to 100% Sao(2) range. The Rainbow's methemoglobin readings are acceptably accurate over an oxygen saturation range of 74%-100% and a methemoglobin range of 0%-14%.

Intrinsic stress modulation in diamond like carbon films with incorporation of gold nanoparticles by PLA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panda, Madhusmita; Krishnan, R.; Krishna, Nanda Gopala; Madapu, Kishore K.; Kamruddin, M.

2018-04-01

Intrinsic stress modulation in the diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings with incorporation of gold nanoparticles was studied qualitatively from Raman shift. The films were deposited on Si (1 0 0) substrates by using Pulsed laser ablation (PLA) of pure pyrolytic graphite target and with a gold foil on it. Films compositional and chemical behavior was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Visible Raman spectroscopy, respectively. The sp3 content obtained from XPS shows dramatic variation in DLC, DLC-Au(100), DLC-Au(200) and DLC-Au(300) as 39%, 41%, 47% and 66% with various gold contentsas 0%, 12%, 7.3% and 4.7%, respectively. The Raman spectra of DLC/Au films showed G-peak shift towards lower wavenumber indicating the reduction of intrinsic stress (internal compressive stress). The sp2, sp3 fraction in the films are also determined from FWHM (G-Peak).

Metabolic and histologic effects of sodium pyruvate treatment in the rat after cortical contusion injury.

PubMed

Fukushima, Masamichi; Lee, Stefan M; Moro, Nobuhiro; Hovda, David A; Sutton, Richard L

2009-07-01

This study determined the effects of intraperitoneal sodium pyruvate (SP) treatment on the levels of circulating fuels and on cerebral microdialysis levels of glucose (MD(glc)), lactate (MD(lac)), and pyruvate (MD(pyr)), and the effects of SP treatment on neuropathology after left cortical contusion injury (CCI) in rats. SP injection (1000 mg/kg) 5 min after sham injury (Sham-SP) or CCI (CCI-SP) significantly increased arterial pyruvate (p < 0.005) and lactate (p < 0.001) compared to that of saline-treated rats with CCI (CCI-Sal). Serum glucose also increased significantly in CCI-SP compared to that in CCI-Sal rats (p < 0.05), but not in Sham-SP rats. MD(pyr) was not altered after CCI-Sal, whereas MD(lac) levels within the cerebral cortex significantly increased bilaterally (p < 0.05) and those for MD(glc) decreased bilaterally (p < 0.05). MD(pyr) levels increased significantly in both Sham-SP and CCI-SP rats (p < 0.05 vs. CCI-Sal) and were higher in left/injured cortex of the CCI-SP group (p < 0.05 vs. sham-SP). In CCI-SP rats the contralateral MD(lac) decreased below CCI-Sal levels (p < 0.05) and the ipsilateral MD(glc) levels exceeded those of CCI-Sal rats (p < 0.05). Rats with a single low (500 mg/kg) or high dose (1000 mg/kg) SP treatment had fewer damaged cortical cells 6 h post-CCI than did saline-treated rats (p < 0.05), but three hourly injections of SP (1000 mg/kg) were needed to significantly reduce contusion volume 2 weeks after CCI. Thus, a single intraperitoneal SP treatment increases circulating levels of three potential brain fuels, attenuates a CCI-induced reduction in extracellular glucose while increasing extracellular levels of pyruvate, but not lactate, and can attenuate cortical cell damage occurring within 6 h of injury. Enduring (2 week) neuronal protection was achieved only with multiple SP treatments within the first 2 h post-CCI, perhaps reflecting the need for additional fuel throughout the acute period of increased metabolic demands induced by CCI.

Metabolic and Histologic Effects of Sodium Pyruvate Treatment in the Rat after Cortical Contusion Injury

PubMed Central

Fukushima, Masamichi; Lee, Stefan M.; Moro, Nobuhiro; Hovda, David A.

2009-01-01

Abstract This study determined the effects of intraperitoneal sodium pyruvate (SP) treatment on the levels of circulating fuels and on cerebral microdialysis levels of glucose (MDglc), lactate (MDlac), and pyruvate (MDpyr), and the effects of SP treatment on neuropathology after left cortical contusion injury (CCI) in rats. SP injection (1000 mg/kg) 5 min after sham injury (Sham-SP) or CCI (CCI-SP) significantly increased arterial pyruvate (p < 0.005) and lactate (p < 0.001) compared to that of saline-treated rats with CCI (CCI-Sal). Serum glucose also increased significantly in CCI-SP compared to that in CCI-Sal rats (p < 0.05), but not in Sham-SP rats. MDpyr was not altered after CCI-Sal, whereas MDlac levels within the cerebral cortex significantly increased bilaterally (p < 0.05) and those for MDglc decreased bilaterally (p < 0.05). MDpyr levels increased significantly in both Sham-SP and CCI-SP rats (p < 0.05 vs. CCI-Sal) and were higher in left/injured cortex of the CCI-SP group (p < 0.05 vs. sham-SP). In CCI-SP rats the contralateral MDlac decreased below CCI-Sal levels (p < 0.05) and the ipsilateral MDglc levels exceeded those of CCI-Sal rats (p < 0.05). Rats with a single low (500 mg/kg) or high dose (1000 mg/kg) SP treatment had fewer damaged cortical cells 6 h post-CCI than did saline-treated rats (p < 0.05), but three hourly injections of SP (1000 mg/kg) were needed to significantly reduce contusion volume 2 weeks after CCI. Thus, a single intraperitoneal SP treatment increases circulating levels of three potential brain fuels, attenuates a CCI-induced reduction in extracellular glucose while increasing extracellular levels of pyruvate, but not lactate, and can attenuate cortical cell damage occurring within 6 h of injury. Enduring (2 week) neuronal protection was achieved only with multiple SP treatments within the first 2 h post-CCI, perhaps reflecting the need for additional fuel throughout the acute period of increased metabolic demands induced by CCI. PMID:19594384

Forward Masking in Cochlear Implant Users: Electrophysiological and Psychophysical Data Using Pulse Train Maskers.

PubMed

Adel, Youssef; Hilkhuysen, Gaston; Noreña, Arnaud; Cazals, Yves; Roman, Stéphane; Macherey, Olivier

2017-06-01

Electrical stimulation of auditory nerve fibers using cochlear implants (CI) shows psychophysical forward masking (pFM) up to several hundreds of milliseconds. By contrast, recovery of electrically evoked compound action potentials (eCAPs) from forward masking (eFM) was shown to be more rapid, with time constants no greater than a few milliseconds. These discrepancies suggested two main contributors to pFM: a rapid-recovery process due to refractory properties of the auditory nerve and a slow-recovery process arising from more central structures. In the present study, we investigate whether the use of different maskers between eCAP and psychophysical measures, specifically single-pulse versus pulse train maskers, may have been a source of confound.In experiment 1, we measured eFM using the following: a single-pulse masker, a 300-ms low-rate pulse train masker (LTM, 250 pps), and a 300-ms high-rate pulse train masker (HTM, 5000 pps). The maskers were presented either at same physical current (Φ) or at same perceptual (Ψ) level corresponding to comfortable loudness. Responses to a single-pulse probe were measured for masker-probe intervals ranging from 1 to 512 ms. Recovery from masking was much slower for pulse trains than for the single-pulse masker. When presented at Φ level, HTM produced more and longer-lasting masking than LTM. However, results were inconsistent when LTM and HTM were compared at Ψ level. In experiment 2, masked detection thresholds of single-pulse probes were measured using the same pulse train masker conditions. In line with our eFM findings, masked thresholds for HTM were higher than those for LTM at Φ level. However, the opposite result was found when the pulse trains were presented at Ψ level.Our results confirm the presence of slow-recovery phenomena at the level of the auditory nerve in CI users, as previously shown in animal studies. Inconsistencies between eFM and pFM results, despite using the same masking conditions, further underline the importance of comparing electrophysiological and psychophysical measures with identical stimulation paradigms.

Evaluation of accuracy of portable fingertip pulse oximeter, as compared to that of a hospital oximeter with digital sensor.

PubMed

Pupim, Denise; Iwaki Filho, Liogi; Takeshita, Wilton Mitsunari; Iwaki, Lilian Cristina Vessoni

2013-01-01

The pulse oximeter is a device that noninvasively provides continuous information about the peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) rate. This device is utilized in the detection of hypoxemia, due to its able to sense changes in hemoglobin oxygen saturation. The objective of this study was to verify the accuracy of the Choice® Medical MD300C3 Fingertip Pulse Oximeter, as compared to that of a hospital oximeter coupled with a Drager® Infinity Delta monitor, with the purpose of using this first methodology in dental procedures to monitor the peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) of patients submitted to dental treatments. Fifty-five adult patients, both genders, were selected in the Santa Casa Hospital of Maringa, Brazil. The volunteers did not present cardiac problems, prosthetic cardiac valves, pacemakers, or pulmonary diseases, and were not pregnant or children. Each patient received a portable fingertip pulse oximeter (PPO) on the middle finger of the left hand and the hospital oximeter (control device) on the forefinger of the same hand. A total of six measurements were developed. The Pearson correlation coefficient and the Bland and Altman method was used to calculate the statistical analysis. No statistically significant difference was found between the measurements taken by the utilized devices. The average of comparative analysis presented by the devices was 0.2337 ± 0.4355 (mean ± SD), suggesting a strong correlation between the obtained results. According to the methodology of the research, the PPO has similar accuracy to the conventional hospital oximeter with digital sensor. The PPO can be used in dental treatments.

Selective RF pulses in NMR and their effect on coupled and uncoupled spin systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slotboom, J.

1993-10-01

This thesis describes various aspects of the usage of shaped RF-pulses for volume selection and spectral editing. Contents: Introduction--The History of Magnetic Resonance in a Nutshell, and The Usage of RF Pulses in Contemporary MRS and MRI; Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Localized NMR Spectroscopy; The Effects of RF Pulse Shape Discretization on the Spatially Selective Performance; Design of Frequency-Selective RF Pulses by Optimizing a Small Number of Pulse Parameters; A Single-Shot Localization Pulse Sequence Suited for Coils with Inhomogeneous RF Fields Using Adiabatic Slice-Selective RF Pulses; The Bloch Equations for an AB System and the Design of Spin State Selective RF Pulses for Coupled Spin Systems; The Effects of Frequency Selective RF Pulses on J Coupled Spin-1/2 Systems; A Quantitative (1)H MRS in vivo Study of the Effects of L-Ornithine-L-Aspartate on the Development of Mild Encephalopathy Using a Single Shot Localization Technique Based on SAR Reduced Adiabatic 2(pi) Pulses.

Propagation characteristics of two-color laser pulses in homogeneous plasma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hemlata,; Saroch, Akanksha; Jha, Pallavi

2015-11-15

An analytical and numerical study of the evolution of two-color, sinusoidal laser pulses in cold, underdense, and homogeneous plasma has been presented. The wave equations for the radiation fields driven by linear as well as nonlinear contributions due to the two-color laser pulses have been set up. A variational technique is used to obtain the simultaneous equations describing the evolution of the laser spot size, pulse length, and chirp parameter. Numerical methods are used to graphically analyze the simultaneous evolution of these parameters due to the combined effect of the two-color laser pulses. Further, the pulse parameters are compared withmore » those obtained for a single laser pulse. Significant focusing, compression, and enhanced positive chirp is obtained due to the combined effect of simultaneously propagating two-color pulses as compared to a single pulse propagating in plasma.« less

Substance P-induced skin inflammation is not modulated by a single dose of sitagliptin in human volunteers.

PubMed

Grouzmann, Eric; Bigliardi, Paul; Appenzeller, Monique; Pannatier, André; Buclin, Thierry

2011-03-01

Substance P (SP), an undecapeptide belonging to the tachykinin family, is released during the activation of sensory nerves, and causes vasodilation, edema and pain through activation of tissular Neurokinin 1 receptors. SP proinflammatory effects are terminated by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and neutral endopeptidase (NEP), while the aminopeptidase dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPPIV) can also play a role. The aim of this randomized, crossover, double-blind study was to assess the cutaneous vasoreactivity (flare and wheal reaction, burning pain sensation) to intradermal injection of ascending doses of SP in six volunteers receiving a single therapeutic dose of the DPPIV inhibitor sitagliptin or a matching placebo. Cutaneous SP challenges produced the expected, dose-dependent flare and wheal response, while eliciting mild to moderate local pain sensation with little dose dependency. However, no differences were shown in the responses observed under sitagliptin compared with placebo, while the study would have been sufficiently powered to detect a clinically relevant increase in sensitivity to SP. The results of this pilot study are in line with proteolytic cleavage of SP by ACE and NEP compensating the blockade of DPPIV to prevent an augmentation of its proinflammatory action.

Morphology and phylogeny of three karyorelictean ciliates (Protista, Ciliophora), including two novel species, Trachelocerca chinensis sp. n. and Tracheloraphis dragescoi sp. n.

PubMed

Xu, Yuan; Yan, Ying; Li, Lifang; Al-Rasheid, Khaled A S; Al-Farraj, Saleh A; Song, Weibo

2014-12-01

This paper investigates the morphology and infraciliature of three karyorelictean ciliates, Trachelocerca chinensis sp. n., Tracheloraphis dragescoi sp. n. and a rarely known form, Geleia acuta (Dragesco, 1960) Foissner, 1998, which were isolated from the intertidal zone of sandy beaches at Zhanjiang and Qingdao, China. Trachelocerca chinensis sp. n. is distinguished from related forms by having 26-30 somatic kineties, a narrow glabrous stripe and a single nuclear group composed of approximately four to six macronuclei and two micronuclei. Tracheloraphis dragescoi sp. n. can be recognized through its 14-22 somatic kineties, wide glabrous stripe and a single nuclear group composed of about four macronuclei. Phylogenetic analyses based on small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequences indicated that the genera Trachelocerca and Tracheloraphis are closely related but that neither of them appears to be a clearly monophyletic group. Nonetheless, the monophyly of Trachelocerca is not rejected by the approximately unbiased (AU) test (P = 0.143, >0.05), although that of Tracheloraphis is rejected (P = 0.011, <0.05). Geleia acuta, meanwhile, branched with Geleia fossata and falls in the Geleia clade. © 2014 IUMS.

Single mode pulsed dye laser oscillator

DOEpatents

Hackel, Richard P.

1992-01-01

A single mode pulsed dye laser oscillator is disclosed. The dye laser oscillator provides for improved power efficiency by reducing the physical dimensions of the overall laser cavity, which improves frequency selection capability.

Temperature field analysis of single layer TiO2 film components induced by long-pulse and short-pulse lasers.

PubMed

Wang, Bin; Zhang, Hongchao; Qin, Yuan; Wang, Xi; Ni, Xiaowu; Shen, Zhonghua; Lu, Jian

2011-07-10

To study the differences between the damaging of thin film components induced by long-pulse and short-pulse lasers, a model of single layer TiO(2) film components with platinum high-absorptance inclusions was established. The temperature rises of TiO(2) films with inclusions of different sizes and different depths induced by a 1 ms long-pulse and a 10 ns short-pulse lasers were analyzed based on temperature field theory. The results show that there is a radius range of inclusions that corresponds to high temperature rises. Short-pulse lasers are more sensitive to high-absorptance inclusions and long-pulse lasers are more easily damage the substrate. The first-damage decision method is drawn from calculations. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Evidence for speckle effects on pulsed CO2 lidar signal returns from remote targets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Menzies, R. T.; Kavaya, M. J.; Flamant, P. H.

1984-01-01

A pulsed CO2 lidar was used to study statistical properties of signal returns from various rough surfaces at distances near 2 km. These included natural in situ topographic materials as well as man-made hard targets. Three lidar configurations were used: heterodyne detection with single temporal mode transmitter pulses, and direct detection with single and multiple temporal mode pulses. The significant differences in signal return statistics, due largely to speckle effects, are discussed.

Terahertz spin current pulses controlled by magnetic heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kampfrath, T.; Battiato, M.; Maldonado, P.; Eilers, G.; Nötzold, J.; Mährlein, S.; Zbarsky, V.; Freimuth, F.; Mokrousov, Y.; Blügel, S.; Wolf, M.; Radu, I.; Oppeneer, P. M.; Münzenberg, M.

2013-04-01

In spin-based electronics, information is encoded by the spin state of electron bunches. Processing this information requires the controlled transport of spin angular momentum through a solid, preferably at frequencies reaching the so far unexplored terahertz regime. Here, we demonstrate, by experiment and theory, that the temporal shape of femtosecond spin current bursts can be manipulated by using specifically designed magnetic heterostructures. A laser pulse is used to drive spins from a ferromagnetic iron thin film into a non-magnetic cap layer that has either low (ruthenium) or high (gold) electron mobility. The resulting transient spin current is detected by means of an ultrafast, contactless amperemeter based on the inverse spin Hall effect, which converts the spin flow into a terahertz electromagnetic pulse. We find that the ruthenium cap layer yields a considerably longer spin current pulse because electrons are injected into ruthenium d states, which have a much lower mobility than gold sp states. Thus, spin current pulses and the resulting terahertz transients can be shaped by tailoring magnetic heterostructures, which opens the door to engineering high-speed spintronic devices and, potentially, broadband terahertz emitters.

Design and Construction of a Microcontroller-Based Ventilator Synchronized with Pulse Oximeter.

PubMed

Gölcük, Adem; Işık, Hakan; Güler, İnan

2016-07-01

This study aims to introduce a novel device with which mechanical ventilator and pulse oximeter work in synchronization. Serial communication technique was used to enable communication between the pulse oximeter and the ventilator. The SpO2 value and the pulse rate read on the pulse oximeter were transmitted to the mechanical ventilator through transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) lines. The fuzzy-logic-based software developed for the mechanical ventilator interprets these values and calculates the percentage of oxygen (FiO2) and Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) to be delivered to the patient. The fuzzy-logic-based software was developed to check the changing medical states of patients and to produce new results (FiO2 ve PEEP) according to each new state. FiO2 and PEEP values delivered from the ventilator to the patient can be calculated in this way without requiring any arterial blood gas analysis. Our experiments and the feedbacks from physicians show that this device makes it possible to obtain more successful results when compared to the current practices.

Single mode pulsed dye laser oscillator

DOEpatents

Hackel, R.P.

1992-11-24

A single mode pulsed dye laser oscillator is disclosed. The dye laser oscillator provides for improved power efficiency by reducing the physical dimensions of the overall laser cavity, which improves frequency selection capability. 6 figs.

Biosynthesis and Intracellular Transport of 11S Globulin in Developing Pumpkin Cotyledons 1

PubMed Central

Hara-Nishimura, Ikuko; Nishimura, Mikio; Akazawa, Takashi

1985-01-01

In vitro studies to explore the biosynthesis of 11S globulin developing cotyledons of pumpkin (Cucurbita sp.) demonstrated that 11S globulin is synthesized on membrane-bound polysomes. Mr of the translation products (preproglobulin) synthesized by the poly(A)+-RNA isolated from developing cotyledons were determined to be 64,000 and 59,000, which are larger than those of the mature globulin subunit (62,000 and 57,000). Preproglobulin is then cotranslationally processed by cleavage of the signal peptide to produce proglobulin. In vivo pulse-chase experiments showed the sequential transformation of the single-chain proglobulin to mature globulin subunit (disulfide-linked doublet polypeptides) indicating posttranslational modification of the proglobulin. Subcellular fractionation of the pulse-chased intact cotyledons showed that the [35S]methionine label is detectable in proglobulin in rough endoplasmic reticulum shortly after the pulse label. With time, the labeled proteins move into other cellular fractions: proglobulin in the density = 1.24 grams per cubic centimeter fractions after 30 minutes and mature globulin subunit associated with protein bodies after 1 to 2 hours. The distribution of proglobulin in sucrose density gradients did not correspond with those of catalase (microbody marker) or fumarase (mitochondria marker). An accumulation of proglobulin occurred in the density = 1.24 grams per cubic centimeter fractions, whereas the mature globulin was scarcely detectable in this fraction. In contrast, proglobulin was not detected by immunochemical blotting analysis in the protein bodies prepared under the mild conditions from cotyledon protoplasts. The results suggest that the d = 1.24 grams per cubic centimeter fractions are engaged in the translocation of proglobulin into the protein bodies. Images Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 PMID:16664128

Development of double-pulse lasers ablation system and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy for direct spectral analysis of manganese doped PVA polymer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khalil, A. A. I.; Morsy, M. A.; El-Deen, H. Z.

2017-11-01

Series of manganese-co-precipitated poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) polymer were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed using laser ablation system (LAS) based on double-pulse laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (DP-LIBS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The collinear nanosecond laser beams of 266 and 1064 nm were optimized to focus on the surface of the PVA polymer target. Both laser beams were employed to estimate the natural properties of the excited Mn-PVA plasma, such as electron number density (Ne), electron temperature (Te), and Mn concentration. Individual transition lines of manganese (Mn), carbon (C), lithium (Li), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atoms are identified based on the NIST spectral database. The results show better responses with DP-LIBS than the single-pulse laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (SP-LIBS). On the other hand, the EPR investigation shows characteristic broad peak of Mn-nano-particles (Mn-NPs) in the range of quantum dots of superparamagnetic materials. The line width (peak-to-peak, ΔHpp) and g-value of the observed Mn-EPR peak are ∼20 mT and 2.0046, respectively. The intensities of Mn-emission line at a wavelength 403.07 nm and the Mn-EPR absorption peak were used to accurate quantify the Mn-content in the polymer matrix. The results produce linear trends within the studied concentration range with regression coefficient (R2) value of ∼0.99, and limit of detection (LOD) of 0.026 mol.% and 0.016 mol.%, respectively. The LOD values are at a fold change of about -0.2 of the studied lowest mol.%. The proposed protocols of trace element detection are of significant advantage and can be applied to the other metal analysis.

Hydration properties of regioselectively etherified celluloses monitored by 2H and 13C solid-state MAS NMR spectroscopy.

PubMed

Larsen, Flemming H; Schöbitz, Michael; Schaller, Jens

2012-06-20

The hydration properties of 2,3-O-hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) and 2,3-O-hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) were analyzed by multi-nuclear solid-state MAS NMR spectroscopy. By 13C single-pulse (SP) MAS and cross-polarization (CP) MAS NMR, differences between the immobile regions and all parts of the polysaccharides were detected as a function of hydration. Complementary information about the water environments was observed by 2H MAS NMR. By this approach it was demonstrated that side chains in 2,3-O-HPC and 2,3-O-HEC were easier to hydrate than the cellulose backbone. Furthermore the motion of water was more restricted (slower) in 2,3-O-HPC than in 2,3-O-HEC. For both polysaccharides the hydration could be explained by a two-step process: in step one increased ordering of the immobile regions occurs after which the entire polymer is hydrated in step two. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Femtosecond pulsed laser micromachining of single crystalline 3C SiC structures based on a laser-induced defect-activation process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Yuanyuan; Zorman, Christian; Molian, Pal

2003-09-01

A femtosecond pulsed Ti:sapphire laser with a pulse width of 120 fs, a wavelength of 800 nm and a repetition rate of 1 kHz was employed for direct write patterning of single crystalline 3C-SiC thin films deposited on Si substrates. The ablation mechanism of SiC was investigated as a function of pulse energy. At high pulse energies (>1 µJ), ablation occurred via thermally dominated processes such as melting, boiling and vaporizing of single crystalline SiC. At low pulse energies, the ablation mechanism involved a defect-activation process that included the accumulation of defects, formation of nano-particles and vaporization of crystal boundaries, which contributed to well-defined and debris-free patterns in 3C-SiC thin films. The interactions between femtosecond laser pulses and the intrinsic lattice defects in epitaxially grown 3C-SiC films led to the generation of nano-particles. Micromechanical structures such as micromotor rotors and lateral resonators were patterned into 3C-SiC films using the defect-activation ablation mechanism.

In-planta Sporulation Capacity Enhances Infectivity and Rhizospheric Competitiveness of Frankia Strains.

PubMed

Cotin-Galvan, Laetitia; Pozzi, Adrien C; Schwob, Guillaume; Fournier, Pascale; Fernandez, Maria P; Herrera-Belaroussi, Aude

2016-01-01

Frankia Sp+ strains maintain their ability to sporulate in symbiosis with actinorhizal plants, producing abundant sporangia inside host plant cells, in contrast to Sp- strains, which are unable to perform in-planta sporulation. We herein examined the role of in-planta sporulation in Frankia infectivity and competitiveness for root infection. Fifteen strains belonging to different Sp+ and Sp- phylogenetic lineages were inoculated on seedlings of Alnus glutinosa (Ag) and A. incana (Ai). Strain competitiveness was investigated by performing Sp-/Sp+ co-inoculations. Plant inoculations were standardized using crushed nodules obtained under laboratory-controlled conditions (same plant species, age, and environmental factors). Specific oligonucleotide primers were developed to identify Frankia Sp+ and/or Sp- strains in the resulting nodules. Single inoculation experiments showed that (i) infectivity by Sp+ strains was significantly greater than that by Sp- strains, (ii) genetically divergent Sp+ strains exhibited different infective abilities, and (iii) Sp+ and Sp- strains showed different host preferences according to the origin (host species) of the inocula. Co-inoculations of Sp+ and Sp- strains revealed the greater competitiveness of Sp+ strains (98.3 to 100% of Sp+ nodules, with up to 15.6% nodules containing both Sp+ and Sp- strains). The results of the present study highlight differences in Sp+/Sp- strain ecological behaviors and provide new insights to strengthen the obligate symbiont hypothesis for Sp+ strains.

Enhancement of electricity production in a mediatorless air-cathode microbial fuel cell using Klebsiella sp. IR21.

PubMed

Lee, Yun-Yeong; Kim, Tae Gwan; Cho, Kyung-Suk

2016-06-01

A novel dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria, Klebsiella sp. IR21, was isolated from the anode biofilm of an MFC reactor. Klebsiella sp. IR21 reduced 27.8 % of ferric iron to ferrous iron demonstrating that Klebsiella sp. IR21 has electron transfer ability. Additionally, Klebsiella sp. IR21 generated electricity forming a biofilm on the anode surface. When a pure culture of Klebsiella sp. IR21 was supplied into a single chamber, air-cathode MFC fed with a mixture of glucose and acetate (500 mg L(-1) COD), 40-60 mV of voltage (17-26 mA m(-2) of current density) was produced. Klebsiella sp. IR21 was also utilized as a biocatalyst to improve the electrical performance of a conventional MFC reactor. A single chamber, air-cathode MFC was fed with reject wastewater (10,000 mg L(-1) COD) from a H2 fermentation reactor. The average voltage, current density, and power density were 142.9 ± 25.74 mV, 60.5 ± 11.61 mA m(-2), and 8.9 ± 3.65 mW m(-2), respectively, in the MFC without inoculation of Klebsiella sp. IR21. However, these electrical performances of the MFC were significantly increased to 204.7 ± 40.24 mV, 87.5 ± 17.20 mA m(-2), and 18.6 ± 7.23 mW m(-2), respectively, with inoculation of Klebsiella sp. IR21. The results indicate that Klebsiella sp. IR21 can be utilized as a biocatalyst for enhancement of electrical performance in MFC systems.

Black carbon aerosol properties measured by a single particle soot photometer in emissions from biomass burning in the laboratory and field

Treesearch

G. R. McMeeking; J. W. Taylor; A. P. Sullivan; M. J. Flynn; S. K. Akagi; C. M. Carrico; J. L. Collett; E. Fortner; T. B. Onasch; S. M. Kreidenweis; R. J. Yokelson; C. Hennigan; A. L. Robinson; H. Coe

2010-01-01

We present SP2 observations of BC mass, size distributions and mixing state in emissions from laboratory and field biomass fires in California, USA. Biomass burning is the primary global black carbon (BC) source, but understanding of the amount emitted and its physical properties at and following emission are limited. The single particle soot photometer (SP2) uses a...

Efficacy of high intensity exercise on disease activity and cardiovascular risk in active axial spondyloarthritis: a randomized controlled pilot study.

PubMed

Sveaas, Silje Halvorsen; Berg, Inger Jorid; Provan, Sella Aarrestad; Semb, Anne Grete; Hagen, Kåre Birger; Vøllestad, Nina; Fongen, Camilla; Olsen, Inge C; Michelsen, Annika; Ueland, Thor; Aukrust, Pål; Kvien, Tore K; Dagfinrud, Hanne

2014-01-01

Physical therapy is recommended for the management of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and flexibility exercises have traditionally been the main focus. Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are considered as a major health concern in axSpA and there is strong evidence that endurance and strength exercise protects against CV diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of high intensity endurance and strength exercise on disease activity and CV health in patients with active axSpA. In a single blinded randomized controlled pilot study the exercise group (EG) performed 12 weeks of endurance and strength exercise while the control group (CG) received treatment as usual. The primary outcome was the Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Disease Activity Score (ASDAS). Secondary outcomes included patient reported disease activity (Bath AS Disease Activity Index [BASDAI]), physical function (Bath AS Functional Index [BASFI]), and CV risk factors measured by arterial stiffness (Augmentation Index [Alx]) and Pulse Wave Velocity [PWV]), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 peak) and body composition. ANCOVA on the post intervention values with baseline values as covariates was used to assess group differences, and Mann Whitney U-test was used for outcomes with skewed residuals. Twenty-eight patients were included and 24 (EG, n = 10, CG, n = 14) completed the study. A mean treatment effect of -0.7 (95%CI: -1.4, 0.1) was seen in ASDAS score. Treatment effects were also observed in secondary outcomes (mean group difference [95%CI]): BASDAI: -2.0 (-3.6, -0.4), BASFI: -1.4 (-2.6, -0.3), arterial stiffness (estimated median group differences [95% CI]): AIx (%): -5.3 (-11.0, -0.5), and for PVW (m/s): -0.3 (-0.7, 0.0), VO2 peak (ml/kg/min) (mean group difference [95%CI]: 3.7 (2.1, 5.2) and trunk fat (%): -1.8 (-3.0, -0.6). No adverse events occurred. High intensity exercise improved disease activity and reduced CV risk factors in patients with active axSpA. These effects will be further explored in a larger trial. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01436942.

Value of a single-shot turbo spin-echo pulse sequence for assessing the architecture of the subarachnoid space and the constitutive nature of cerebrospinal fluid.

PubMed

Pease, Anthony; Sullivan, Stacey; Olby, Natasha; Galano, Heather; Cerda-Gonzalez, Sophia; Robertson, Ian D; Gavin, Patrick; Thrall, Donald

2006-01-01

Three case history reports are presented to illustrate the value of the single-shot turbo spin-echo pulse sequence for assessment of the subarachnoid space. The use of the single-shot turbo spin-echo pulse sequence, which is a heavily T2-weighted sequence, allows for a rapid, noninvasive evaluation of the subarachnoid space by using the high signal from cerebrospinal fluid. This sequence can be completed in seconds rather than the several minutes required for a T2-fast spin-echo sequence. Unlike the standard T2-fast spin-echo sequence, a single-shot turbo spin-echo pulse sequence also provides qualitative information about the protein and the cellular content of the cerebrospinal fluid, such as in patients with inflammatory debris or hemorrhage in the cerebrospinal fluid. Although the resolution of the single-shot turbo spin-echo pulse sequence images is relatively poor compared with more conventional sequences, the qualitative information about the subarachnoid space and cerebrospinal fluid and the rapid acquisition time, make it a useful sequence to include in standard protocols of spinal magnetic resonance imaging.

High-mechanical-strength single-pulse draw tower gratings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rothhardt, Manfred W.; Chojetzki, Christoph; Mueller, Hans Rainer

2004-11-01

The inscription of fiber Bragg gratings during the drawing process is a very useful method to realize sensor arrays with high numbers of gratings and excellent mechanical strength and also type II gratings with high temperature stability. Results of single pulse grating arrays with numbers up to 100 and definite wavelengths and positions for sensor applications were achieved at 1550 nm and 830 nm using new photosensitive fibers developed in IPHT. Single pulse type I gratings at 1550 nm with more than 30% reflectivity were shown first time to our knowledge. The mechanical strength of this fiber with an Ormocer coating with those single pulse gratings is the same like standard telecom fibers. Weibull plots of fiber tests will be shown. At 830 nm we reached more than 10% reflectivity with single pulse writing during the fiber drawing in photosensitive fibers with less than 16 dB/km transmission loss. These gratings are useful for stress and vibration sensing applications. Type II gratings with reflectivity near 100% and smooth spectral shape and spectral width of about 1 nm are temperature stable up to 1200 K for short time. They are also realized in the fiber drawing process. These gratings are useful for temperature sensor applications.

Experimental mixtures of superparamagnetic and single-domain magnetite with respect to Day-Dunlop plots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumari, Monika; Hirt, Ann M.; Uebe, Rene; Schüler, Dirk; Tompa, Éva; Pósfai, Mihály; Lorenz, Wolfram; Ahrentorp, Fredrik; Jonasson, Christian; Johansson, Christer

2015-06-01

Day-Dunlop plots are widely used in paleomagnetic and environmental studies as a tool to determine the magnetic domain state of magnetite, i.e., superparamagnetic (SP), stable single-domain (SD), pseudosingle-domain (PSD), multidomain (MD), and their mixtures. The few experimental studies that have examined hysteresis properties of SD-SP mixtures of magnetite found that the ratios of saturation remanent magnetization to saturation magnetization and the coercivity of remanence to coercivity are low, when compared to expected theoretical mixing trends based on Langevin theory. This study reexamines Day-Dunlop plots using experimentally controlled mixtures of SD and SP magnetite grains. End-members include magnetotactic bacteria (MSR-1) as the SD source, and a commercial ferrofluid or magnetotactic bacteria (ΔA12) as the SP source. Each SP-component was added incrementally to a SD sample. Experimental results from these mixing series show that the magnetization and coercivity ratios are lower than the theoretical prediction for bulk SP magnetic size. Although steric repulsion was present between the particles, we cannot rule out interaction in the ferrofluid for higher concentrations. The SP bacteria are noninteracting as the magnetite was enclosed by an organic bilipid membrane. Our results demonstrate that the magnetization and coercivity ratios of SD-SP mixtures can lie in the PSD range, and that an unambiguous interpretation of particle size can only be made with information about the magnetic properties of the end-members.

The semi-aquatic freshwater earthworms of the genus Glyphidrilus Horst, 1889 from Thailand (Oligochaeta, Almidae) with re-descriptions of several species

PubMed Central

Chanabun, Ratmanee; Sutcharit, Chirasak; Tongkerd, Piyoros; Panha, Somsak

2013-01-01

Abstract The semi-aquatic freshwater earthworm genus Glyphidrilus Horst, 1889 from Thailand was investigated based on extensive recent collecting. The species in this genus were characterized by their external and internal morphological characters of the location of wings, genital openings, genital organ structures and their locations, as well as the dimensions of body length and number of segments. Several type specimens were compared with both previous and newly collected materials. Ten new species are described from several river systems in Thailand; as Glyphidrilus borealis sp. n., Glyphidrilus chaophraya sp. n., Glyphidrilus chiensis sp. n., Glyphidrilus huailuangensis sp. n., Glyphidrilus kratuensis sp. n., Glyphidrilus quadratus sp. n., Glyphidrilus trangensis sp. n., Glyphidrilus wararamensis sp. n., Glyphidrilus vangthongensis sp. n. and Glyphidrilus vesper sp. n. Each species is endemic to a single river system. All 26 previously described species are re-described, and eight lectotypes have been designated. An identification key and a morphological comparison summary are provided. PMID:23653518

High spatial variation in population size and symbiotic performance of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii with white clover in New Zealand pasture soils.

PubMed

Wakelin, Steven; Tillard, Guyléne; van Ham, Robert; Ballard, Ross; Farquharson, Elizabeth; Gerard, Emily; Geurts, Rene; Brown, Matthew; Ridgway, Hayley; O'Callaghan, Maureen

2018-01-01

Biological nitrogen fixation through the legume-rhizobia symbiosis is important for sustainable pastoral production. In New Zealand, the most widespread and valuable symbiosis occurs between white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii (Rlt). As variation in the population size (determined by most probable number assays; MPN) and effectiveness of N-fixation (symbiotic potential; SP) of Rlt in soils may affect white clover performance, the extent in variation in these properties was examined at three different spatial scales: (1) From 26 sites across New Zealand, (2) at farm-wide scale, and (3) within single fields. Overall, Rlt populations ranged from 95 to >1 x 108 per g soil, with variation similar at the three spatial scales assessed. For almost all samples, there was no relationship between rhizobia population size and ability of the population to fix N during legume symbiosis (SP). When compared with the commercial inoculant strain, the SP of soils ranged between 14 to 143% efficacy. The N-fixing ability of rhizobia populations varied more between samples collected from within a single hill country field (0.8 ha) than between 26 samples collected from diverse locations across New Zealand. Correlations between SP and calcium and aluminium content were found in all sites, except within a dairy farm field. Given the general lack of association between SP and MPN, and high spatial variability of SP at single field scale, provision of advice for treating legume seed with rhizobia based on field-average MPN counts needs to be carefully considered.

High spatial variation in population size and symbiotic performance of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii with white clover in New Zealand pasture soils

PubMed Central

Tillard, Guyléne; van Ham, Robert; Ballard, Ross; Farquharson, Elizabeth; Gerard, Emily; Geurts, Rene; Brown, Matthew; Ridgway, Hayley; O’Callaghan, Maureen

2018-01-01

Biological nitrogen fixation through the legume-rhizobia symbiosis is important for sustainable pastoral production. In New Zealand, the most widespread and valuable symbiosis occurs between white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii (Rlt). As variation in the population size (determined by most probable number assays; MPN) and effectiveness of N-fixation (symbiotic potential; SP) of Rlt in soils may affect white clover performance, the extent in variation in these properties was examined at three different spatial scales: (1) From 26 sites across New Zealand, (2) at farm-wide scale, and (3) within single fields. Overall, Rlt populations ranged from 95 to >1 x 108 per g soil, with variation similar at the three spatial scales assessed. For almost all samples, there was no relationship between rhizobia population size and ability of the population to fix N during legume symbiosis (SP). When compared with the commercial inoculant strain, the SP of soils ranged between 14 to 143% efficacy. The N-fixing ability of rhizobia populations varied more between samples collected from within a single hill country field (0.8 ha) than between 26 samples collected from diverse locations across New Zealand. Correlations between SP and calcium and aluminium content were found in all sites, except within a dairy farm field. Given the general lack of association between SP and MPN, and high spatial variability of SP at single field scale, provision of advice for treating legume seed with rhizobia based on field-average MPN counts needs to be carefully considered. PMID:29489845

Single mimivirus particles intercepted and imaged with an X-ray laser

PubMed Central

Seibert, M. Marvin; Ekeberg, Tomas; Maia, Filipe R. N. C.; Svenda, Martin; Andreasson, Jakob; Jönsson, Olof; Odić, Duško; Iwan, Bianca; Rocker, Andrea; Westphal, Daniel; Hantke, Max; DePonte, Daniel P.; Barty, Anton; Schulz, Joachim; Gumprecht, Lars; Coppola, Nicola; Aquila, Andrew; Liang, Mengning; White, Thomas A.; Martin, Andrew; Caleman, Carl; Stern, Stephan; Abergel, Chantal; Seltzer, Virginie; Claverie, Jean-Michel; Bostedt, Christoph; Bozek, John D.; Boutet, Sébastien; Miahnahri, A. Alan; Messerschmidt, Marc; Krzywinski, Jacek; Williams, Garth; Hodgson, Keith O.; Bogan, Michael J.; Hampton, Christina Y.; Sierra, Raymond G.; Starodub, Dmitri; Andersson, Inger; Bajt, Saša; Barthelmess, Miriam; Spence, John C. H.; Fromme, Petra; Weierstall, Uwe; Kirian, Richard; Hunter, Mark; Doak, R. Bruce; Marchesini, Stefano; Hau-Riege, Stefan P.; Frank, Matthias; Shoeman, Robert L.; Lomb, Lukas; Epp, Sascha W.; Hartmann, Robert; Rolles, Daniel; Rudenko, Artem; Schmidt, Carlo; Foucar, Lutz; Kimmel, Nils; Holl, Peter; Rudek, Benedikt; Erk, Benjamin; Hömke, André; Reich, Christian; Pietschner, Daniel; Weidenspointner, Georg; Strüder, Lothar; Hauser, Günter; Gorke, Hubert; Ullrich, Joachim; Schlichting, Ilme; Herrmann, Sven; Schaller, Gerhard; Schopper, Florian; Soltau, Heike; Kühnel, Kai-Uwe; Andritschke, Robert; Schröter, Claus-Dieter; Krasniqi, Faton; Bott, Mario; Schorb, Sebastian; Rupp, Daniela; Adolph, Marcus; Gorkhover, Tais; Hirsemann, Helmut; Potdevin, Guillaume; Graafsma, Heinz; Nilsson, Björn; Chapman, Henry N.; Hajdu, Janos

2014-01-01

X-ray lasers offer new capabilities in understanding the structure of biological systems, complex materials and matter under extreme conditions1–4. Very short and extremely bright, coherent X-ray pulses can be used to outrun key damage processes and obtain a single diffraction pattern from a large macromolecule, a virus or a cell before the sample explodes and turns into plasma1. The continuous diffraction pattern of non-crystalline objects permits oversampling and direct phase retrieval2. Here we show that high-quality diffraction data can be obtained with a single X-ray pulse from a non-crystalline biological sample, a single mimivirus particle, which was injected into the pulsed beam of a hard-X-ray free-electron laser, the Linac Coherent Light Source5. Calculations indicate that the energy deposited into the virus by the pulse heated the particle to over 100,000 K after the pulse had left the sample. The reconstructed exit wavefront (image) yielded 32-nm full-period resolution in a single exposure and showed no measurable damage. The reconstruction indicates inhomogeneous arrangement of dense material inside the virion. We expect that significantly higher resolutions will be achieved in such experiments with shorter and brighter photon pulses focused to a smaller area. The resolution in such experiments can be further extended for samples available in multiple identical copies. PMID:21293374

Pulsed Laser Ablation Synthesis of Diamond Molecules in Supercritical Fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakahara, Sho; Stauss, Sven; Miyazoe, Hiroyuki; Shizuno, Tomoki; Suzuki, Minoru; Kataoka, Hiroshi; Sasaki, Takehiko; Terashima, Kazuo

2010-09-01

Nanocarbon materials have been synthesized by pulsed laser ablation (532 nm; 52 J/cm2; 7 ns; 10 Hz) of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite in adamantane-dissolved supercritical xenon at a temperature T = 290.2 K and pressure p = 5.86 MPa. Micro-Raman spectroscopy of the products revealed the presence of hydrocarbons possessing sp3 hybridized bonds also found in diamond structures. The synthesis of diamantane was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The same measurements also indicate the possible synthesis of other diamondoids up to octamantane. Thus, laser ablation in supercritical fluids is proposed as one practical method of synthesizing diamondoids.

On-demand semiconductor single-photon source with near-unity indistinguishability.

PubMed

He, Yu-Ming; He, Yu; Wei, Yu-Jia; Wu, Dian; Atatüre, Mete; Schneider, Christian; Höfling, Sven; Kamp, Martin; Lu, Chao-Yang; Pan, Jian-Wei

2013-03-01

Single-photon sources based on semiconductor quantum dots offer distinct advantages for quantum information, including a scalable solid-state platform, ultrabrightness and interconnectivity with matter qubits. A key prerequisite for their use in optical quantum computing and solid-state networks is a high level of efficiency and indistinguishability. Pulsed resonance fluorescence has been anticipated as the optimum condition for the deterministic generation of high-quality photons with vanishing effects of dephasing. Here, we generate pulsed single photons on demand from a single, microcavity-embedded quantum dot under s-shell excitation with 3 ps laser pulses. The π pulse-excited resonance-fluorescence photons have less than 0.3% background contribution and a vanishing two-photon emission probability. Non-postselective Hong-Ou-Mandel interference between two successively emitted photons is observed with a visibility of 0.97(2), comparable to trapped atoms and ions. Two single photons are further used to implement a high-fidelity quantum controlled-NOT gate.

High-energy 100-ns single-frequency all-fiber laser at 1064 nm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Shijie; Shi, Wei; Tang, Zhao; Shi, Chaodu; Bai, Xiaolei; Sheng, Quan; Chavez-Pirson, Arturo; Peyghambarian, N.; Yao, Jianquan

2018-02-01

A high-energy, single-frequency fiber laser with long pulse duration of 100 ns has been experimentally investigated in an all-fiber architecture. Only 34-cm long heavily Yb-doped phosphate fiber was employed in power scaling stage to efficiently suppress the Stimulated Brillouin effect (SBS). In the experiment, 0.47 mJ single pulse energy was achieved in power scaling stage at the pump power of 16 W. The pre-shaped pulse was gradually broadened from 103 to 140 ns during the amplification without shape distortion.

A highly efficient and compact long pulse Nd:YAG rod laser with 540 J of pulse energy for welding application.

PubMed

Choubey, Ambar; Vishwakarma, S C; Misra, Pushkar; Jain, R K; Agrawal, D K; Arya, R; Upadhyaya, B N; Oak, S M

2013-07-01

We have developed an efficient and high average power flash lamp pumped long pulse Nd:YAG laser capable of generating 1 kW of average output power with maximum 540 J of single pulse energy and 20 kW of peak power. The laser pulse duration can be varied from 1 to 40 ms and repetition rate from 1 to 100 Hz. A compact and robust laser pump chamber and resonator was designed to achieve this high average and peak power. It was found that this laser system provides highest single pulse energy as compared to other long pulsed Nd:YAG laser systems of similar rating. A slope efficiency of 5.4% has been achieved, which is on higher side for typical lamp pumped solid-state lasers. This system will be highly useful in laser welding of materials such as aluminium and titanium. We have achieved 4 mm deep penetration welding of these metals under optimized conditions of output power, pulse energy, and pulse duration. The laser resonator was optimized to provide stable operation from single shot to 100 Hz of repetition rate. The beam quality factor was measured to be M(2) ~ 91 and pulse-to-pulse stability of ±3% for the multimode operation. The laser beam was efficiently coupled through an optical fiber of 600 μm core diameter and 0.22 numerical aperture with power transmission of 90%.

Evaluation of the filling ability of artificial lateral canals using calcium silicate-based and epoxy resin-based endodontic sealers and two gutta-percha filling techniques.

PubMed

Fernández, R; Restrepo, J S; Aristizábal, D C; Álvarez, L G

2016-04-01

To evaluate the ability of a calcium silicate-based sealer (iRoot SP) and an epoxy resin-based sealer (Topseal) using two gutta-percha filling techniques to fill artificial lateral canals (ALCs). Seventy single-rooted human teeth were selected. Ten of these were used to obtain pilot data. Three ALCs were produced on mesial and distal surfaces of each root, one in each third, using size 10 engine reamers. The roots were randomly assigned to four experimental groups according to the filling technique and sealer used: 1, cold gutta-percha (single-point technique) with iRoot SP (SP-iR); 2, cold gutta-percha (single-point technique) with Topseal (SP-T); 3, continuous wave of condensation technique with iRoot SP (CWC-iR); and 4, continuous wave of condensation technique with Topseal (CWC-T). Digital periapical radiographs were taken. After the sealer had set, the roots were demineralized, cleared in methyl-salicylate and examined under a stereomicroscope. The depth of penetration of sealer and/or gutta-percha into the ALC was scored using a 5-point system, conducting an analysis on four surfaces. Filling scores of 0-1 were considered not acceptable, whilst scores of 2-4 were considered acceptable. Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare the experimental groups (P < 0.05). CWC-T was associated with the highest acceptable filling (57.8%), followed by CWC-iR (53.3%), SP-T (48.9%) and SP-iR (36.7%). Only when SP-iR was compared to the other groups, was the difference significant (P < 0.05). The apical third was associated with the lowest acceptable filling (37.5%). It was followed, in ascending order, by the middle (51.6%) and coronal thirds (58.3%). These differences were significant only when the apical thirds were compared to the other root thirds (P < 0.05). The calcium silicate-based sealer with continuous wave of condensation was more effective in artificial filling lateral canals than the single-point technique. The epoxy resin-based sealer with both filling techniques was effective in artificial filling lateral canals. © 2015 International Endodontic Journal. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The Single-Phase ProtoDUNE Technical Design Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Abi, B.

2017-06-21

ProtoDUNE-SP is the single-phase DUNE Far Detector prototype that is under construction and will be operated at the CERN Neutrino Platform (NP) starting in 2018. ProtoDUNE-SP, a crucial part of the DUNE effort towards the construction of the first DUNE 10-kt fiducial mass far detector module (17 kt total LAr mass), is a significant experiment in its own right. With a total liquid argon (LAr) mass of 0.77 kt, it represents the largest monolithic single-phase LArTPC detector to be built to date. It's technical design is given in this report.

Reevaluating reference ranges of oxygen saturation for healthy full-term neonates using pulse oximetry.

PubMed

Lu, Ying-Chun; Wang, Chih-Chien; Lee, Chuen-Ming; Hwang, Kwei-Shuai; Hua, Yi-Ming; Yuh, Yeong-Seng; Chiu, Yu-Lung; Hsu, Wan-Fu; Chou, Ya-Ling; Huang, Shao-Wei; Lee, Yih-Jing; Fan, Hueng-Chuen

2014-12-01

We compared our clinical experience with currently available reference oxygen saturation level (SpO(2)) values from the American Academy of Pediatrics/American Heart Association (AAP/AHA) neonatal resuscitation program guidelines. We enrolled 145 healthy full-term neonates; infants showing respiratory distress and those with serious congenital anomalies were excluded. SpO(2) values at every 1 minute until 10 minutes after birth were measured and recorded. Infants were classified into the cesarean section (CS) and normal spontaneous delivery (NSD) groups for evaluating differences. The 10(th) percentiles of SpO(2) at each minute were used as the lower limits of normal oxygen saturation, and these were compared with the lowest target values recommended in the AAP/AHA guidelines. Overall, 130 vigorous full-term neonates (median gestational age: 38 5/7 weeks; body weight at birth: 2405-3960 g) were analyzed. The median SpO(2) were 67% and 89% at the 1(st) and 4(th) minute, respectively. On average, SpO(2) values reached >90% at the 5(th) minute. No statistical differences were noted in the SpO(2) values between the CS and NSD groups after 5 minutes; however, a trend of higher SpO(2) was observed in the NSD group. We noted a gradually increasing trend for SpO(2) values over time, similar to that noted in the AAP/AHA guidelines. However, SpO(2) values at the 10(th) percentiles of each minute within the first 5 minutes in our study were equal to or significantly lower than those in the AAP/AHA guidelines; moreover, at the 10(th) minute, SpO(2) values at the 10(th) percentiles were significantly higher than those in the guidelines. The delivery modes did not affect the SpO(2) values of full-term healthy neonates. Discrepancies in SpO(2) changes in full-term neonates not requiring resuscitation between this study and the AAP/AHA guidelines were significant. SpO(2) ranges for each time point within the first 10 minutes after birth should therefore be reevaluated locally. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Distortion management in slow-light pulse delay.

PubMed

Stenner, Michael D; Neifeld, Mark A; Zhu, Zhaoming; Dawes, Andrew M C; Gauthier, Daniel J

2005-12-12

We describe a methodology to maximize slow-light pulse delay subject to a constraint on the allowable pulse distortion. We show that optimizing over a larger number of physical variables can increase the distortion-constrained delay. We demonstrate these concepts by comparing the optimum slow-light pulse delay achievable using a single Lorentzian gain line with that achievable using a pair of closely-spaced gain lines. We predict that distortion management using a gain doublet can provide approximately a factor of 2 increase in slow-light pulse delay as compared with the optimum single-line delay. Experimental results employing Brillouin gain in optical fiber confirm our theoretical predictions.

Spectral modification of the laser emission of a terahertz quantum cascade laser induced by broad-band double pulse injection seeding

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Markmann, Sergej, E-mail: sergej.markmann@ruhr-uni-bochum.de; Nong, Hanond, E-mail: nong.hanond@ruhr-uni-bochum.de; Hekmat, Negar

2015-09-14

We demonstrate by injection seeding that the spectral emission of a terahertz (THz) quantum cascade laser (QCL) can be modified with broad-band THz pulses whose bandwidths are greater than the QCL bandwidth. Two broad-band THz pulses delayed in time imprint a modulation on the single THz pulse spectrum. The resulting spectrum is used to injection seed the THz QCL. By varying the time delay between the THz pulses, the amplitude distribution of the QCL longitudinal modes is modified. By applying this approach, the QCL emission is reversibly switched from multi-mode to single mode emission.

Coherent Raman Imaging of Live Muscle Sarcomeres Assisted by SFG Microscopy.

PubMed

Kim, Hyunmin; Kim, Do-Young; Joo, Kyung-Il; Kim, Jung-Hye; Jeong, Soon Moon; Lee, Eun Seong; Hahm, Jeong-Hoon; Kim, Kyuhyung; Moon, Dae Woon

2017-08-23

In this study, we used spectrally focused coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (spCARS) microscopy assisted by sum-frequency generation (SFG) to monitor the variations in the structural morphology and molecular vibrations of a live muscle of Caenorhabditis elegans. The subunits of the muscle sarcomeres, such as the M-line, myosin, dense body, and α-actinin, were alternatively observed using spCARS microscopy for different sample orientations, with the guidance of a myosin positional marker captured by SFG microscopy. Interestingly enough, the beam polarization dependence of the spCARS contrasts for two parallel subunits (dense body and myosin) showed a ~90° phase difference. The chemically sensitive spCARS spectra induced by the time-varying overlap of two pulses allowed (after a robust subtraction of the non-resonant background using a modified Kramers-Krönig transformation method) high-fidelity detection of various genetically modified muscle sarcomeres tuned to the C-H vibration (2800-3100 cm -1 ). Conversely, SFG image mapping assisted by phase-retrieved spCARS spectra also facilitated label-free monitoring of the changes in the muscle content of C. elegans that are associated with aging, based on the hypothesis that the C-H vibrational modes could serve as qualitative chemical markers sensitive to the amount and/or structural modulation of the muscle.

Assessing the tongue colour of newly born infants may help to predict the need for supplemental oxygen in the delivery room.

PubMed

Dawson, J A; Ekström, A; Frisk, C; Thio, M; Roehr, C C; Kamlin, C O F; Donath, S M; Davis, P G

2015-04-01

It takes several minutes for infants to become pink after birth. Preductal oxygen saturation (SpO2) measurements are used to guide the delivery of supplemental oxygen to newly born infants, but pulse oximetry is not available in many parts of the world. We explored whether the pinkness of an infant's tongue provided a useful indication that supplemental oxygen was required. This was a prospective observational study of infants delivered by Caesarean section. Simultaneous recording of SpO2 and visual assessment of whether the tongue was pink or not was made at 1-7 and 10 min after birth. The 38 midwives and seven paediatric trainees carried out 271 paired assessments on 68 infants with a mean (SD) birthweight of 3214 (545) grams and gestational age of 38 (2) weeks. When the infant did not have a pink tongue, this predicted SpO2 of <70% with a sensitivity of 26% and a specificity of 96%. Tongue colour was a specific but insensitive sign that indicated when SpO2 was <70%. When the tongue is pink, it is likely that an infant has an SpO2 of more than 70% and does not require supplemental oxygen. ©2014 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The Microwave Spectrum of Methyl Vinyl Ketone Revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilcox, David S.; Shirar, Amanda J.; Williams, Owen L.; Dian, Brian C.

2011-06-01

A chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectrometer was used to record the rotational spectrum of methyl vinyl ketone (MVK, 3-butene-2-one) from 6 to 18.9 GHz. Two stable conformations were identified: the previously documented antiperiplanar (ap) conformer and synperiplanar (sp), which is reported for the first time in this microwave study. Methyl torsional analysis with XIAM resulted in V3 barrier heights of 433.8(1) and 376.6(2) Cm-1 for ap- and sp-MVK, respectively. Heavy atom isotopic species were detected in natural abundance allowing bond lengths and angles of the molecular frames to be calculated through Kraitchman analysis. A comparison with ab initio calculations is included.

Single-transistor-clocked flip-flop

DOEpatents

Zhao, Peiyi; Darwish, Tarek; Bayoumi, Magdy

2005-08-30

The invention provides a low power, high performance flip-flop. The flip-flop uses only one clocked transistor. The single clocked transistor is shared by the first and second branches of the device. A pulse generator produces a clock pulse to trigger the flip-flop. In one preferred embodiment the device can be made as a static explicit pulsed flip-flop which employs only two clocked transistors.

New species of Bryozoa from Madeira associated with rhodoliths.

PubMed

Souto, Javier; Reverter-Gil, Oscar; Ostrovsky, Andrew N

2014-05-12

Four new species of cheilostomate Bryozoa encrusting rhodoliths on Maërl beds are described from material collected at a single locality at Madeira Island. These are Coronellina atlantica n. sp., Hippothoa muripinnata n. sp., Chorizopora rosaria n. sp. and Hippoporella maderensis n. sp. A species of Schizomavella is left in open nomenclature. The genus Coronellina is transferred from the family Calescharidae and assigned to Microporidae. The close similarity of C. atlantica n. sp., a non-opesiulate species with deep depressions, to Coronellina fagei with opesiules, implies that the generally accepted evolutionary sequence from non-opesiulate to opesiulate species might not be the rule.

S-process studies using single and pulsed neutron exposures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beer, H.

The formation of heavy elements by slow neutron capture (s-process) is investigated. A pulsed neutron irradiation leading to an exponential exposure distribution is dominant for nuclei from A = 90 to 200. For the isotopes from iron to zirconium an additional 'weak' s-process component must be superimposed. Calculations using a single or another pulsed neutron exposure for this component have been carried out in order to reproduce the abundance pattern of the s-only and s-process dominant isotopes. For the adjustment of these calculations to the empirical values, the inclusion of new capture cross section data on Se76 and Y89 and the consideration of the branchings at Ni63, Se79, and Kr85 was important. The combination of an s-process with a single and a pulsed neutron exposure yielded a better representation of empirical abundances than a two component pulsed s-process.

Investigating radiation induced damage processes with femtosecond x-ray pulses (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Changyong

2017-05-01

Interest in high-resolution structure investigation has been zealous, especially with the advent of X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs). The intense and ultra-short X-ray laser pulses ( 10 GW) pave new routes to explore structures and dynamics of single macromolecules, functional nanomaterials and complex electronic materials. In the last several years, we have developed XFEL single-shot diffraction imaging by probing ultrafast phase changes directly. Pump-probe single-shot imaging was realized by synchronizing femtosecond (<10 fs in FWHM) X-ray laser (probe) with femtosecond (50 fs) IR laser (pump) at better than 1 ps resolution. Nanoparticles under intense fs-laser pulses were investigated with fs XFEL pulses to provide insight into the irreversible particle damage processes with nanoscale resolution. Research effort, introduced, aims to extend the current spatio-temporal resolution beyond the present limit. We expect this single-shot dynamic imaging to open new science opportunity with XFELs.

Statistical study of single and multiple pulse laser-induced damage in glasses.

PubMed

Gallais, L; Natoli, J; Amra, C

2002-12-16

Single and multiple pulse laser damage studies are performed in Suprasil silica and BK-7 borosilicate glasses. Experiments are made in the bulk of materials at 1.064microm with nanosecond pulses, using an accurate and reliable measurement system. By means of a statistical study on laser damage probabilities, we demonstrate that the same nano-precursors could be involved in the multiple shot and single shot damage process. A damage mechanism with two stages is then proposed to explain the results. Firstly, a pre-damage process, corresponding to material changes at a microscopic level, leads the precursor to a state that can induce a one-pulse damage. And secondly a final damage occurs, with a mechanism identical to the single shot case. For each material, a law is found to predict the precursor life-time. We can then deduce the long term life of optical elements in high-power laser systems submitted to multipulse irradiation.

Generation of single-cycle mid-infrared pulses via coherent synthesis.

PubMed

Ma, Fen; Liu, Hongjun; Huang, Nan; Sun, Qibing

2012-12-17

A new approach for the generation of single-cycle mid-infrared pulses without complicated control systems is proposed, which is based on direct coherent synthesis of two idlers generated by difference frequency generation (DFG) processes. It is found that the waveform of synthesized pulses is mainly determined by the spectra superposition, the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) difference, the relative timing and the chirp ratio between the idlers. The influences of these parameters on the synthesized waveform are also numerically calculated and analyzed via second-order autocorrelation, which offers general guidelines for the waveform optimization. The single-cycle synthesized mid-infrared pulses, which are centered at 4233 nm with the spectrum spanning from 3000 nm to 7000 nm, are achieved by carefully optimizing these parameters. The single-cycle mid-infrared laser source presents the possibility of investigating and controlling the strong field light-matter interaction.

System for generating pluralities of optical pulses with predetermined frequencies in a temporally and spatially overlapped relationship

DOEpatents

Meyerhofer, David D.; Schmid, Ansgar W.; Chuang, Yung-ho

1992-01-01

Ultra short (pico second and shorter) laser pulses having components of different frequency which are overlapped coherently in space and with a predetermined constant relationship in time, are generated and may be used in applications where plural spectrally separate, time-synchronized pulses are needed as in wave-length resolved spectroscopy and spectral pump probe measurements for characterization of materials. A Chirped Pulse Amplifier (CPA), such as a regenerative amplifier, which provides amplified, high intensity pulses at the output thereof which have the same spatial intensity profile, is used to process a series of chirped pulses, each with a different central frequency (the desired frequencies contained in the output pulses). Each series of chirped pulses is obtained from a single chirped pulse by spectral windowing with a mask in a dispersive expansion stage ahead of the laser amplifier. The laser amplifier amplifies the pulses and provides output pulses with like spatial and temporal profiles. A compression stage then compresses the amplified pulses. All the individual pulses of different frequency, which originated in each single chirped pulse, are compressed and thereby coherently overlapped in space and time. The compressed pulses may be used for the foregoing purposes and other purposes wherien pulses having a plurality of discrete frequency components are required.

System for generating pluralities of optical pulses with predetermined frequencies in a temporally and spatially overlapped relationship

DOEpatents

Meyerhofer, D.D.; Schmid, A.W.; Chuang, Y.

1992-03-10

Ultrashort (pico second and shorter) laser pulses having components of different frequency which are overlapped coherently in space and with a predetermined constant relationship in time, are generated and may be used in applications where plural spectrally separate, time-synchronized pulses are needed as in wave-length resolved spectroscopy and spectral pump probe measurements for characterization of materials. A Chirped Pulse Amplifier (CPA), such as a regenerative amplifier, which provides amplified, high intensity pulses at the output thereof which have the same spatial intensity profile, is used to process a series of chirped pulses, each with a different central frequency (the desired frequencies contained in the output pulses). Each series of chirped pulses is obtained from a single chirped pulse by spectral windowing with a mask in a dispersive expansion stage ahead of the laser amplifier. The laser amplifier amplifies the pulses and provides output pulses with like spatial and temporal profiles. A compression stage then compresses the amplified pulses. All the individual pulses of different frequency, which originated in each single chirped pulse, are compressed and thereby coherently overlapped in space and time. The compressed pulses may be used for the foregoing purposes and other purposes wherien pulses having a plurality of discrete frequency components are required. 4 figs.

Optimal control of quantum rings by terahertz laser pulses.

PubMed

Räsänen, E; Castro, A; Werschnik, J; Rubio, A; Gross, E K U

2007-04-13

Complete control of single-electron states in a two-dimensional semiconductor quantum-ring model is established, opening a path into coherent laser-driven single-gate qubits. The control scheme is developed in the framework of optimal-control theory for laser pulses of two-component polarization. In terms of pulse lengths and target-state occupations, the scheme is shown to be superior to conventional control methods that exploit Rabi oscillations generated by uniform circularly polarized pulses. Current-carrying states in a quantum ring can be used to manipulate a two-level subsystem at the ring center. Combining our results, we propose a realistic approach to construct a laser-driven single-gate qubit that has switching times in the terahertz regime.

Chirp of the single attosecond pulse generated by a polarization gating

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chang Zenghu

2005-02-01

The chirp of the xuv supercontinuum generated by a polarization gating is investigated by comparing three-dimensional nonadiabatic numerical simulations with classical calculations. The origin of the chirp is the dependence of the energy gain by an electron on the return time. The chirp is positive and its value is almost the same as that when a linearly polarized laser is used. Although the 250-eV-wide supercontinuum corresponds to a single attosecond pulse, the shortest duration of the pulse is limited by the chirp. By compensating the positive chirp with the negative group velocity dispersion of a Sn filter, it is predictedmore » that a single 58-as pulse can be generated.« less

Ultrafast Single-Shot Optical Oscilloscope based on Time-to-Space Conversion due to Temporal and Spatial Walk-Off Effects in Nonlinear Mixing Crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takagi, Yoshihiro; Yamada, Yoshifumi; Ishikawa, Kiyoshi; Shimizu, Seiji; Sakabe, Shuji

2005-09-01

A simple method for single-shot sub-picosecond optical pulse diagnostics has been demonstrated by imaging the time evolution of the optical mixing onto the beam cross section of the sum-frequency wave when the interrogating pulse passes over the tested pulse in the mixing crystal as a result of the combined effect of group-velocity difference and walk-off beam propagation. A high linearity of the time-to-space projection is deduced from the process solely dependent upon the spatial uniformity of the refractive indices. A snap profile of the accidental coincidence between asynchronous pulses from separate mode-locked lasers has been detected, which demonstrates the single-shot ability.

27 Al MAS NMR Studies of HBEA Zeolite at Low to High Magnetic Fields

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hu, Jian Zhi; Wan, Chuan; Vjunov, Aleksei

27Al single pulse (SP) MAS NMR spectra of HBEA zeolites with high Si/Al ratios of 71 and 75 were obtained at three magnetic field strengths of 7.05, 11.75 and 19.97 T. High field 27Al MAS NMR spectra acquired at 19.97 T show significantly improved spectral resolution, resulting in at least two well-resolved tetrahedral-Al NMR peaks. Based on the results obtained from 27Al MAS and MQMAS NMR acquired at 19.97 T, four different quadrupole peaks are used to deconvolute the 27Al SP MAS spectra acquired at vari-ous fields by using the same set of quadrupole coupling constants, asymmetric parameters and relativemore » integrated peak intensities for the tetrahedral Al peaks. The line shapes of individual peaks change from typical quadrupole line shape at low field to essentially symmetrical line shapes at high field. We demonstrate that for fully hydrated HBEA zeolites the effect of second order quadrupole interaction can be ignored and quantitative spectral analysis can be performed by directly fitting the high field spectra using mixed Gaussian/Lorentzian line shapes. Also, the analytical steps described in our work allow direct assignment of spectral intensity to individual Al tetrahedral sites (T-sites) of zeolite HBEA. Finally, the proposed concept is suggested generally applicable to other zeo-lite framework types, thus, allowing a direct probing of Al distributions by NMR spectroscopic methods in zeolites with high confi-dence.« less

Two new marine scuticociliates, Sathrophilus planus n. sp. and Pseudoplatynematum dengi n. sp., with improved definition of Pseudoplatynematum (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophora).

PubMed

Fan, Xinpeng; Chen, Xiangrui; Song, Weibo; Al-Rasheid, Khaled A S; Warren, Alan

2010-08-01

Two new marine scuticociliates, Sathrophilus planus n. sp. and Pseudoplatynematum dengi n. sp., isolated from coastal waters of Qingdao, northern China, were investigated using live observation and silver impregnations. Sathrophilus planus can be recognized by its elongate and conspicuously flattened body, ca. 16 somatic kineties, single postoral kinety, extremely elongated first kinety row of membranelle 1, and its marine habitat. Among these features, the structure of membranelle 1 is the most characteristic and enables this species to be easily distinguished from its congeners. Pseudoplatynematum dengi is characterized by the following features: cell surface conspicuously strengthened and notched; prominent spines both at anterior and posterior ends of cell; membranelles 1 and 2 three-rowed, membranelle 3 single-rowed; paroral membrane composed of two parts, anterior end of upper part extending to about level of membranelle 2; ca. 20 somatic kineties, one postoral kinety; single prolonged caudal cilium; contractile vacuole caudally positioned. The diagnosis of the genus Pseudoplatynematum was renewed to include some new characteristics revealed by silver impregnation methods. Crown Copyright (c) 2010. Published by Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Single cell protein production of Chlorella sp. using food processing waste as a cultivation medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Putri, D.; Ulhidayati, A.; Musthofa, I. A.; Wardani, A. K.

2018-03-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of various food processing wastes on the production of single cell protein by Chlorella sp. Three various food processing wastes i.e. tofu waste, tempeh waste and cheese whey waste were used as cultivation medium for Chlorella sp. growth. Sea water was used as a control of cultivation medium. The addition of waste into cultivation medium was 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. The result showed that the highest yield of cell mass and protein content was found in 50% tofu waste cultivation medium was 47.8 × 106 cell/ml with protein content was 52.24%. The 50% tofu waste medium showed improved cell yield as nearly as 30% than tempeh waste medium. The yield of biomass and protein content when 30% tempeh waste was used as cultivation medium was 37.1 × 106 cell/ml and 52%, respectively. Thus, food processing waste especially tofu waste would be a promising candidate for cultivation medium for single cell production from Chlorella sp. Moreover, the utilization of waste can reduce environmental pollution and increase protein supply for food supplement or animal feed.

Room-temperature ultrafast nonlinear spectroscopy of a single molecule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liebel, Matz; Toninelli, Costanza; van Hulst, Niek F.

2018-01-01

Single-molecule spectroscopy aims to unveil often hidden but potentially very important contributions of single entities to a system's ensemble response. Albeit contributing tremendously to our ever growing understanding of molecular processes, the fundamental question of temporal evolution, or change, has thus far been inaccessible, thus painting a static picture of a dynamic world. Here, we finally resolve this dilemma by performing ultrafast time-resolved transient spectroscopy on a single molecule. By tracing the femtosecond evolution of excited electronic state spectra of single molecules over hundreds of nanometres of bandwidth at room temperature, we reveal their nonlinear ultrafast response in an effective three-pulse scheme with fluorescence detection. A first excitation pulse is followed by a phase-locked de-excitation pulse pair, providing spectral encoding with 25 fs temporal resolution. This experimental realization of true single-molecule transient spectroscopy demonstrates that two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy of single molecules is experimentally within reach.

All-Optical Two-Dimensional Serial-to-Parallel Pulse Converter Using an Organic Film with Femtosecond Optical Response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tatsuura, Satoshi; Wada, Osamu; Furuki, Makoto; Tian, Minquan; Sato, Yasuhiro; Iwasa, Izumi; Pu, Lyong Sun

2001-04-01

In this study, we introduce a new concept of all-optical two-dimensional serial-to-parallel pulse converters. Femtosecond optical pulses can be understood as thin plates of light traveling in space. When a femtosecond signal-pulse train and a single gate pulse were fed onto a material with a finite incident angle, each signal-pulse plate met the gate-pulse plate at different locations in the material due to the time-of-flight effect. Meeting points can be made two-dimensional by adding a partial time delay to the gate pulse. By placing a nonlinear optical material at an appropriate position, two-dimensional serial-to-parallel conversion of a signal-pulse train can be achieved with a single gate pulse. We demonstrated the detection of parallel outputs from a 1-Tb/s optical-pulse train through the use of a BaB2O4 crystal. We also succeeded in demonstrating 1-Tb/s serial-to-parallel operation through the use of a novel organic nonlinear optical material, squarylium-dye J-aggregate film, which exhibits ultrafast recovery of bleached absorption.

Optical π phase shift created with a single-photon pulse.

PubMed

Tiarks, Daniel; Schmidt, Steffen; Rempe, Gerhard; Dürr, Stephan

2016-04-01

A deterministic photon-photon quantum logic gate is a long-standing goal. Building such a gate becomes possible if a light pulse containing only one photon imprints a phase shift of π onto another light field. We experimentally demonstrate the generation of such a π phase shift with a single-photon pulse. A first light pulse containing less than one photon on average is stored in an atomic gas. Rydberg blockade combined with electromagnetically induced transparency creates a phase shift for a second light pulse, which propagates through the medium. We measure the π phase shift of the second pulse when we postselect the data upon the detection of a retrieved photon from the first pulse. This demonstrates a crucial step toward a photon-photon gate and offers a variety of applications in the field of quantum information processing.

Structure of picosecond pulses of a Q-switched and mode-locked diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Donin, V I; Yakovin, D V; Gribanov, A V

2015-12-31

The pulse duration of a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser, in which Q-switching with mode-locking (QML regime) is achieved using a spherical mirror and a travelling-wave acousto-optic modulator, is directly measured with a streak camera. It is found that the picosecond pulses can have a non-single-pulse structure, which is explained by excitation of several competing transverse modes in the Q-switching regime with a pulse repetition rate of 1 kHz. In the case of cw mode-locking (without Q-switching), a new (auto-QML) regime is observed, in which the pulse train repetition rate is determined by the frequency of the relaxation oscillations of the lasermore » field while the train contains single picosecond pulses. (control of laser radiation parameters)« less

An absorptive single-pole four-throw switch using multiple-contact MEMS switches and its application to a monolithic millimeter-wave beam-forming network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Sanghyo; Kim, Jong-Man; Kim, Yong-Kweon; Kwon, Youngwoo

2009-01-01

In this paper, a new absorptive single-pole four-throw (SP4T) switch based on multiple-contact switching is proposed and integrated with a Butler matrix to demonstrate a monolithic beam-forming network at millimeter waves (mm waves). In order to simplify the switching driving circuit and reduce the number of unit switches in an absorptive SP4T switch, the individual switches were replaced with long-span multiple-contact switches using stress-free single-crystalline-silicon MEMS technology. This approach improves the mechanical stability as well as the manufacturing yield, thereby allowing successful integration into a monolithic beam former. The fabricated absorptive SP4T MEMS switch shows insertion loss less than 1.3 dB, return losses better than 11 dB at 30 GHz and wideband isolation performance higher than 39 dB from 20 to 40 GHz. The absorptive SP4T MEMS switch is integrated with a 4 × 4 Butler matrix on a single chip to implement a monolithic beam-forming network, directing beam into four distinct angles. Array factors from the measured data show that the proposed absorptive SPnT MEMS switch can be effectively used for high-performance mm-wave beam-switching systems. This work corresponds to the first demonstration of a monolithic beam-forming network using switched beams.

The Role of Alveolar Epithelium in Radiation-Induced Lung Injury

PubMed Central

Almeida, Celine; Nagarajan, Devipriya; Tian, Jian; Leal, Sofia Walder; Wheeler, Kenneth; Munley, Michael; Blackstock, William; Zhao, Weiling

2013-01-01

Pneumonitis and fibrosis are major lung complications of irradiating thoracic malignancies. In the current study, we determined the effect of thoracic irradiation on the lungs of FVB/N mice. Survival data showed a dose-dependent increase in morbidity following thoracic irradiation with single (11–13 Gy) and fractionated doses (24–36 Gy) of 137Cs γ-rays. Histological examination showed a thickening of vessel walls, accumulation of inflammatory cells, collagen deposition, and regional fibrosis in the lungs 14 weeks after a single 12 Gy dose and a fractionated 30 Gy dose; this damage was also seen 5 months after a fractionated 24 Gy dose. After both single and fractionated doses, i] aquaporin-5 was markedly decreased, ii] E-cadherin was reduced and iii] prosurfactant Protein C (pro-SP-c), the number of pro-SP-c+ cells and vimentin expression were increased in the lungs. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed co-localization of pro-SP-c and α-smooth muscle actin in the alveoli after a single dose of 12 Gy. These data suggest that, i] the FVB/N mouse strain is sensitive to thoracic radiation ii] aquaporin-5, E-cadherin, and pro-SP-c may serve as sensitive indicators of radiation-induced lung injury; and iii] the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition may play an important role in the development of radiation-induced lung fibrosis. PMID:23326473

Simultaneous estimation of arterial and venous oxygen saturation using a camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Gastel, Mark; Liang, Hangbing; Stuijk, Sander; de Haan, Gerard

2018-02-01

Optical monitoring of arterial blood oxygenation, SpO2, using cameras has recently been shown feasible by measuring the relative amplitudes of the remotely sensed PPG waveforms captured at different wavelengths. SvO2 measures the venous blood oxygenation which together with SpO2 provides an indication of tissue oxygen consumption. In contrast to SpO2 it usually still requires a blood sample from a pulmonary artery catheter. In this work we present a method which suggests simultaneous estimation of SpO2 and SvO2 with a camera. Contrary to earlier work, our method does not require external cuffs leading to better usability and improved comfort. Since the arterial blood varies synchronously with the heart rate, all frequencies outside the heart rate band are typically filtered out for SpO2 measurements. For SvO2 estimation, we include intensity variations in the respiratory frequency range since respiration modulates venous blood due to intrathoracic pressure variations in the chest and abdomen. Consequently, under static conditions, the two dominant components in the PPG signals are respiration and pulse. By measuring the amplitude ratios of these components, it seems possible to monitor both SpO2 and SvO2 continuously. We asked healthy subjects to follow an auditory breathing pattern while recording the face and hand. Results show a difference in estimated SpO2 and SvO2 values in the range 5-30 percent for both anatomical locations, which is normal for healthy people. This continuous, non-contact, method shows promise to alert the clinician to a change in patient condition sooner than SpO2 alone.

Noninvasive Continuous Hemoglobin Monitoring in Combat Casualties: A Pilot Study.

PubMed

Bridges, Elizabeth; Hatzfeld, Jennifer J

2016-09-01

To describe the accuracy and precision of noninvasive hemoglobin measurement (SpHb) compared with laboratory or point-of-care Hb, and SpHb ability to trend in seriously injured casualties. Observational study in a convenience sample of combat casualties undergoing resuscitation at two US military trauma hospitals in Afghanistan. SpHb was obtained using the Masimo Rainbow SET (Probe Rev E/Radical-7 Pulse CO-Oximeter v 7.6.2.1). Clinically indicated Hb was analyzed with a Coulter or iStat and compared with simultaneous SpHb values. Twenty-three patients were studied (ISS 20 ± 9.8; age 29 ± 9 years; male 97%; 100% intubated). Primary injury cause: improvised explosive device (67%) or gunshot (17%). There were 49 SpHb-Hb pairs (median 2 per subject). Bias: 0.3 ± 1.6 g/dL (95% LOA -2.4, 3.4 g/dL). The SpHb-Hb difference < ± 1 g/dL in 37% of pairs. Eighty-six percent of pairs changed in a similar direction. Using an absolute change in Hb of >1 g/dL, a concurrent absolute change in SpHb of >1 g/dL had a sensitivity: 61%, specificity 85%, positive predictive value: 80%, and a negative predictive value: 69%. The SpHb signal was present in 4643 of 6137 min monitored (76%). This was the first study to describe continuous SpHb in seriously injured combat casualties. Using a threshold of 1 g/dL previously specified in the literature, continuous SpHb is not precise enough to serve as sole transfusion trigger in trauma patients. Further research is needed to determine if it is useful for trending Hb changes or as an early indicator of deterioration in combat casualties.

Quasi-steady-state air plasma channel produced by a femtosecond laser pulse sequence

PubMed Central

Lu, Xin; Chen, Shi-You; Ma, Jing-Long; Hou, Lei; Liao, Guo-Qian; Wang, Jin-Guang; Han, Yu-Jing; Liu, Xiao-Long; Teng, Hao; Han, Hai-Nian; Li, Yu-Tong; Chen, Li-Ming; Wei, Zhi-Yi; Zhang, Jie

2015-01-01

A long air plasma channel can be formed by filamentation of intense femtosecond laser pulses. However, the lifetime of the plasma channel produced by a single femtosecond laser pulse is too short (only a few nanoseconds) for many potential applications based on the conductivity of the plasma channel. Therefore, prolonging the lifetime of the plasma channel is one of the key challenges in the research of femtosecond laser filamentation. In this study, a unique femtosecond laser source was developed to produce a high-quality femtosecond laser pulse sequence with an interval of 2.9 ns and a uniformly distributed single-pulse energy. The metre scale quasi-steady-state plasma channel with a 60–80 ns lifetime was formed by such pulse sequences in air. The simulation study for filamentation of dual femtosecond pulses indicated that the plasma channel left by the previous pulse was weakly affected the filamentation of the next pulse in sequence under our experimental conditions. PMID:26493279

Characterization of rabbit limbal epithelial side population cells using RNA sequencing and single-cell qRT-PCR.

PubMed

Kameishi, Sumako; Umemoto, Terumasa; Matsuzaki, Yu; Fujita, Masako; Okano, Teruo; Kato, Takashi; Yamato, Masayuki

2016-05-06

Corneal epithelial stem cells reside in the limbus, a transitional zone between the cornea and conjunctiva, and are essential for maintaining homeostasis in the corneal epithelium. Although our previous studies demonstrated that rabbit limbal epithelial side population (SP) cells exhibit stem cell-like phenotypes with Hoechst 33342 staining, the different characteristics and/or populations of these cells remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we determined the gene expression profiles of limbal epithelial SP cells by RNA sequencing using not only present public databases but also contigs that were created by de novo transcriptome assembly as references for mapping. Our transcriptome data indicated that limbal epithelial SP cells exhibited a stem cell-like phenotype compared with non-SP cells. Importantly, gene ontology analysis following RNA sequencing demonstrated that limbal epithelial SP cells exhibited significantly enhanced expression of mesenchymal/endothelial cell markers rather than epithelial cell markers. Furthermore, single-cell quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) demonstrated that the limbal epithelial SP population consisted of at least two immature cell populations with endothelial- or mesenchymal-like phenotypes. Therefore, our present results may propose the presence of a novel population of corneal epithelial stem cells distinct from conventional epithelial stem cells. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Arterial oxygen saturation and heart rate after birth in newborns with and without maternal bonding.

PubMed

Bancalari, Aldo; Araneda, Heriberto; Echeverría, Patricia; Alvear, Marina; Romero, Luzmira

2016-10-01

The aim of this study was to determine and compare changes in arterial oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) and heart rate (HR) in healthy term infants with and without maternal bonding. This was a prospective observational study in healthy term infants. SpO 2 and HR were recorded from 1 to 10 min after birth. After this, SpO 2 and HR were registered at 15, 30 and 60 min and then at 12 and 24 h after birth. SpO 2 and HR were measured with a pulse oximeter. A total of 216 healthy term infants were divided into three different groups: 136 (63%) born by vaginal delivery, 56 (26%) born by cesarean section with bonding, and 24 (11%) born by cesarean section without bonding. No difference in SpO 2 was found in babies born by cesarean section with or without maternal bonding. In neonates delivered vaginally, SpO 2 was significantly higher during the first 10 min after birth than in neonates born by cesarean section with bonding (P < 0.05). Compared with infants born by cesarean section without bonding, this tendency was not significant. In general, HR was similar across groups, although, for infants born by cesarean section, neonates who received bonding had lower HR from 6 to 8 min (P < 0.05). In healthy term newborns, maternal bonding in infants born by cesarean section did not have effects on SpO 2 . Some differences were observed in HR between infants born by cesarean section with and without bonding. © 2016 Japan Pediatric Society.

Normobaric hypoxia inhalation test vs. response to airline flight in healthy passengers.

PubMed

Kelly, Paul T; Swanney, Maureen P; Frampton, Chris; Seccombe, Leigh M; Peters, Matthew J; Beckert, Lutz E

2006-11-01

There is little data available to determine the normal response to normobaric hypoxia inhalation testing (NHIT) and air travel. Quantifying a healthy response may assist in the evaluation of passengers considered at risk for air travel. The aims of this study were: (1) to quantify the degree of desaturation in healthy subjects during a NHIT and air travel; and (2) assess the validity of the NHIT when compared with actual in-flight responses. There were 15 healthy adults (age 23-57; 10 women) who volunteered for this study. Preflight tests included lung function, arterial blood gas, pulse oximetry (SpO2), and NHIT (inspired oxygen 15%). SpO2 and cabin pressure were measured continuously on each subject during a commercial air flight (mean cabin altitude 2178 m; range 1719-2426 m). In-flight oxygenation was compared with the preflight NHIT. Lung function testing results were normal. There was significant desaturation (SpO2) during the NHIT (pre: 98 +/- 2%; post: 92 +/- 2%) and at cruising altitude (pre: 97 +/- 1%; cruise: 92 +/- 2%). There was no difference between the final NHIT SpO2 and the mean in-flight SpO2. There was a significant difference between the lowest in-flight SpO2 (88 +/- 2%) vs. the lowest NHIT SpO2, (90 +/- 2%). Oxygen saturation decreases significantly during air travel in normal individuals. In this group of healthy passengers the NHIT approximates some, but not all, aspects of in-flight oxygenation. These results can be used to describe a normal response to the NHIT and air-travel.

Evaluation of near-infrared spectroscopy under apnea-dependent hypoxia in humans.

PubMed

Eichhorn, Lars; Erdfelder, Felix; Kessler, Florian; Doerner, Jonas; Thudium, Marcus O; Meyer, Rainer; Ellerkmann, Richard K

2015-12-01

In this study we investigated the responsiveness of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) recordings measuring regional cerebral tissue oxygenation (rSO2) during hypoxia in apneic divers. The goal was to mimic dynamic hypoxia as present during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, laryngospasm, airway obstruction, or the "cannot ventilate cannot intubate" situation. Ten experienced apneic divers performed maximal breath hold maneuvers under dry conditions. SpO2 was measured by Masimo™ pulse oximetry on the forefinger of the left hand. NIRS was measured by NONIN Medical's EQUANOX™ on the forehead or above the musculus quadriceps femoris. Following apnea median cerebral rSO2 and SpO2 values decreased significantly from 71 to 54 and from 100 to 65%, respectively. As soon as cerebral rSO2 and SpO2 values decreased monotonically the correlation between normalized cerebral rSO2 and SpO2 values was highly significant (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.893). Prior to correlation analyses, the values were normalized by dividing them by the individual means of stable pre-apneic measurements. Cerebral rSO2 measured re-saturation after termination of apnea significantly earlier (10 s, SD = 3.6 s) compared to SpO2 monitoring (21 s, SD = 4.4 s) [t(9) = 7.703, p < 0.001, r(2) = 0.868]. Our data demonstrate that NIRS monitoring reliably measures dynamic changes in cerebral tissue oxygen saturation, and identifies successful re-saturation faster than SpO2. Measuring cerebral rSO2 may prove beneficial in case of respiratory emergencies and during pulseless situations where SpO2 monitoring is impossible.

Rapid ultrasonic stimulation of inflamed tissue with diagnostic intent

PubMed Central

McClintic, Abbi M.; Dickey, Trevor C.; Gofeld, Michael; Ray Illian, P.; Kliot, Michel; Kucewicz, John C.; Loeser, John D.; Richebe, Philippe G.; Mourad, Pierre D.

2013-01-01

Previous studies have observed that individual pulses of intense focused ultrasound (iFU) applied to inflamed and normal tissue can generate sensations, where inflamed tissue responds at a lower intensity than normal tissue. It was hypothesized that successively applied iFU pulses will generate sensation in inflamed tissue at a lower intensity and dose than application of a single iFU pulse. This hypothesis was tested using an animal model of chronic inflammatory pain, created by injecting an irritant into the rat hind paw. Ultrasound pulses were applied in rapid succession or individually to rats' rear paws beginning at low peak intensities and progressing to higher peak intensities, until the rats withdrew their paws immediately after iFU application. Focused ultrasound protocols consisting of successively and rapidly applied pulses elicited inflamed paw withdrawal at lower intensity and estimated tissue displacement values than single pulse protocols. However, both successively applied pulses and single pulses produced comparable threshold acoustic dose values and estimates of temperature increases. This raises the possibility that temperature increase contributed to paw withdrawal after rapid iFU stimulation. While iFU-induction of temporal summation may also play a role, electrophysiological studies are necessary to tease out these potential contributors to iFU stimulation. PMID:23927192

Differences in N-linked glycosylation between human surfactant protein-B variants of the C or T allele at the single-nucleotide polymorphism at position 1580: implications for disease.

PubMed Central

Wang, Guirong; Christensen, Neil D; Wigdahl, Brian; Guttentag, Susan H; Floros, Joanna

2003-01-01

Human surfactant protein-B (SP-B), a hydrophobic protein, is essential for normal lung function. SP-B is expressed and secreted by specific lung cell types, i.e. alveolar type II and Clara cells, of the respiratory epithelium. The SP-B precursor (42 kDa) undergoes post-translational processing to generate an 8 kDa mature SP-B. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at nucleotide 1580 (C/T) in exon 4 of SP-B that changes amino acid 131 from threonine to isoleucine (Thr131-->Ile) is associated with several pulmonary diseases. The Thr131-->Ile substitution can eliminate a potential N-linked glycosylation site, Asn129-Gln-Thr131, which is present in the SP-B variant of the C allele (ACT/Thr) but not in that of the T allele (ATT/Ile). To determine whether the C allele SP-B variant is indeed glycosylated at Asn(129)-Gln-Thr131, we first generated stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary cell lines that expressed each version of SP-B, and developed specific SP-B polyclonal anti-peptide antibodies. Using both the stably transfected cell lines and fetal lung explants, we observed that the C allele variant is indeed glycosylated at the Asn129-Gln-Thr131 site, whereas the T allele variant, which served as a control, is not. In addition, we also confirmed that both SP-B variants contain another N-linked glycosylation site, Asn311-Ser-Ser313. Given its association with several pulmonary diseases, this finding provides useful information for future studies in disease systems associated with this SNP. Further, we speculate that, given the fact that this SNP is found frequently in the general population, N-linked glycosylation at residue Asn129 interferes with SP-B processing, secretion and folding under certain disease conditions. PMID:12356334

Robotic Laparoendoscopic Single-site Retroperitioneal Renal Surgery: Initial Investigation of a Purpose-built Single-port Surgical System.

PubMed

Maurice, Matthew J; Ramirez, Daniel; Kaouk, Jihad H

2017-04-01

Robotic single-site retroperitoneal renal surgery has the potential to minimize the morbidity of standard transperitoneal and multiport approaches. Traditionally, technological limitations of non-purpose-built robotic platforms have hindered the application of this approach. To assess the feasibility of retroperitoneal renal surgery using a new purpose-built robotic single-port surgical system. This was a preclinical study using three male cadavers to assess the feasibility of the da Vinci SP1098 surgical system for robotic laparoendoscopic single-site (R-LESS) retroperitoneal renal surgery. We used the SP1098 to perform retroperitoneal R-LESS radical nephrectomy (n=1) and bilateral partial nephrectomy (n=4) on the anterior and posterior surfaces of the kidney. Improvements unique to this system include enhanced optics and intelligent instrument arm control. Access was obtained 2cm anterior and inferior to the tip of the 12th rib using a novel 2.5-cm robotic single-port system that accommodates three double-jointed articulating robotic instruments, an articulating camera, and an assistant port. The primary outcome was the technical feasibility of the procedures, as measured by the need for conversion to standard techniques, intraoperative complications, and operative times. All cases were completed without the need for conversion. There were no intraoperative complications. The operative time was 100min for radical nephrectomy, and the mean operative time was 91.8±18.5min for partial nephrectomy. Limitations include the preclinical model, the small sample size, and the lack of a control group. Single-site retroperitoneal renal surgery is feasible using the latest-generation SP1098 robotic platform. While the potential of the SP1098 appears promising, further study is needed for clinical evaluation of this investigational technology. In an experimental model, we used a new robotic system to successfully perform major surgery on the kidney through a single small incision without entering the abdomen. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Predicting the structural and electronic properties of two-dimensional single layer boron nitride sheets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiao-Dong; Cheng, Xin-Lu

2018-02-01

Three two-dimensional (2D) single layer boron nitride sheets have been predicted based on the first-principles calculations. These 2D boron nitride sheets are comprised of equivalent boron atoms and nitride atoms with sp2 and sp bond hybridization. The geometry optimization reflects that they all possess stable planar crystal structures with the space group P 6 bar 2 m (D3h3) symmetry. The charge density distribution manifests that the B-N bonds in these boron nitride sheets are covalent in nature but with ionic characteristics. The tunable band gaps indicate their potential applications in nanoscale electronic and optoelectronic devices by changing the length of sp-bonded Bsbnd N linkages.

978-nm square-wave in an all-fiber single-mode ytterbium-doped fiber laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Shujie; Xu, Lixin; Gu, Chun

2018-01-01

A 978 nm single mode passively mode-locked all-fiber laser delivering square-wave pulses was demonstrated using a figure-8 cavity and a 75 cm commercial double-clad ytterbium-doped fiber. We found the three-level system near 978 nm was able to operate efficiently under clad pumping, simultaneously oscillation around 1030 nm well inhibited. The optimized nonlinear amplifying loop mirror made the mode locking stable and performed the square-pulses shaping. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time to report the square-wave pulse fiber laser operating at 980 nm. The spectral width of the 978 mode-locked square pulses was about 4 nm, far greater than that of the mode-locked square pulses around 1060 nm reported before, which would be helpful to deeply understand the various square-wave pulses' natures and forming mechanisms. Compared with modulated single-mode or multimode 980 nm LDs, this kind of 980 nm square-wave sources having higher brightness, more steeper rising and falling edge and shorter pulse width, might have potential applications in pumping nanosecond ytterbium or erbium fiber lasers and amplifiers.

Multiple scattering of broadband terahertz pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pearce, Jeremiah Glen

Propagation of single-cycle terahertz (THz) pulses through a random medium leads to dramatic amplitude and phase variations of the electric field because of multiple scattering. We present the first set of experiments that investigate the propagation of THz pulses through scattering media. The scattering of short pulses is a relevant subject to many communities in science and engineering, because the properties of multiply scattered or diffuse waves provide insights into the characteristics of the random medium. For example, the depolarization of diffuse waves has been used to form images of objects embedded in inhomogeneous media. Most of the previous scattering experiments have used narrowband optical radiation where measurements are limited to time averaged intensities or autocorrelation quantities, which contain no phase information of the pulses. In the experiments presented here, a terahertz time-domain spectrometer (THz-TDS) is used. A THz-TDS propagates single-cycle sub-picosecond pulses with bandwidths of over 1 THz into free space. The THz-TDS is a unique tool to study such phenomena, because it provides access to both the intensity and phase of those pulses through direct measurement of the temporal electric field. Because of the broad bandwidth and linear phase of the pulses, it is possible to simultaneously study Rayleigh scattering and the short wavelength limit in a single measurement. We study the diffusion of broadband single-cycle THz pulses by propagating the pulses through a highly scattering medium. Using the THz-TDS, time-domain measurements provide information on the statistics of both the amplitude and phase of the diffusive waves. We develop a theoretical description, suitable for broadband radiation, which accurately describes the experimental results. We measure the time evolution of the degree of polarization, and directly correlate it with the single-scattering regime in the time domain. Measurements of the evolution of the temporal phase of the radiation demonstrate that the average spectral content depends on the state of polarization. In the case of broadband radiation, this effect distinguishes photons that have been scattered only a few times from those that are propagating diffusively.

A design of energy detector for ArF excimer lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Zebin; Han, Xiaoquan; Zhou, Yi; Bai, Lujun

2017-08-01

ArF excimer lasers with short wavelength and high photon energy are widely applied in the field of integrated circuit lithography, material processing, laser medicine, and so on. Excimer laser single pulse energy is a very important parameter in the application. In order to detect the single pulse energy on-line, one energy detector based on photodiode was designed. The signal processing circuit connected to the photodiode was designed so that the signal obtained by the photodiode was amplified and the pulse width was broadened. The amplified signal was acquired by a data acquisition card and stored in the computer for subsequent data processing. The peak of the pulse signal is used to characterize the single pulse energy of ArF excimer laser. In every condition of deferent pulse energy value levels, a series of data about laser pulses energy were acquired synchronously using the Ophir energy meter and the energy detector. A data set about the relationship between laser pulse energy and the peak of the pulse signal was acquired. Then, by using the data acquired, a model characterizing the functional relationship between the energy value and the peak value of the pulse was trained based on an algorithm of machine learning, Support Vector Regression (SVR). By using the model, the energy value can be obtained directly from the energy detector designed in this project. The result shows that the relative error between the energy obtained by the energy detector and by the Ophir energy meter is less than 2%.

Fundamental Study of Three-dimensional Fast Spin-echo Imaging with Spoiled Equilibrium Pulse.

PubMed

Ogawa, Masashi; Kaji, Naoto; Tsuchihashi, Toshio

2017-01-01

Three-dimensional fast spin-echo (3D FSE) imaging with variable refocusing flip angle has been recently applied to pre- or post-enhanced T 1 -weighted imaging. To reduce the acquisition time, this sequence requires higher echo train length (ETL), which potentially causes decreased T 1 contrast. Spoiled equilibrium (SpE) pulse consists of a resonant +90° radiofrequency (RF) pulse and is applied at the end of the echo train. This +90° RF pulse brings residual transverse magnetization to the negative longitudinal axis, which makes it possible to increase T 1 contrast. The purpose of our present study was to examine factors that influence the effect of spoiled equilibrium pulse and the relationship between T 1 contrast improvement and imaging parameters and to understand the characteristics of spoiled equilibrium pulse. Phantom studies were conducted using an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) phantom made of polyvinyl alcohol gel. To evaluate the effect of spoiled equilibrium pulse with changes in repetition time (TR), ETL, and refocusing flip angle, we measured the signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The effect of spoiled equilibrium pulse was evaluated by calculating the enhancement rate of CNR. The factors that influence the effect of spoiled equilibrium pulse are TR, ETL, and relaxation time of tissues. Spoiled equilibrium pulse is effective with increasing TR and decreasing ETL. The shorter the T 1 value, the better the spoiled equilibrium pulse functions. However, for tissues in which the T 1 value is long (>600 ms), at a TR of 600 ms, improvement in T 1 contrast by applying spoiled equilibrium pulse cannot be expected.

Optical measurements of atomic oxygen concentration, temperature and nitric oxide production rate in flames

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myhr, Franklin Henry

An optical method for measuring nitric oxide (NO) production rates in flames was developed and characterized in a series of steady, one-dimensional, atmospheric-pressure laminar flames of 0.700 Hsb2/0.199 Nsb2/0.101 COsb2 or 0.700 CHsb4/0.300 Nsb2 (by moles) with dry air, with equivalence ratios from 0.79 to 1.27. Oxygen atom concentration, (O), was measured by two-photon laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), temperature was measured by ultraviolet Rayleigh scattering, and nitrogen concentration was calculated from supplied reactant flows; together this information was used to calculate the NO production rate through the thermal (Zel'dovich) mechanism. Measurements by two other techniques were compared with results from the above method. In the first comparison, gas sampling was used to measure axial NO concentration profiles, the slopes of which were multiplied by velocity to obtain total NO production rates. In the second comparison, LIF measurements of hydroxyl radical (OH) were used with equilibrium water concentrations and a partial equilibrium assumption to find (O). Nitric oxide production rates from all three methods agreed reasonably well. Photolytic interference was observed during (O) LIF measurements in all of the flames; this is the major difficulty in applying the optical technique. Photolysis of molecular oxygen in lean flames has been well documented before, but the degree of interference observed in the rich flames suggests that some other molecule is also dissociating; the candidates are OH, CO, COsb2 and Hsb2O. An extrapolative technique for removing the effects of photolysis from (O) LIF measurements worked well in all flames where NO production was significant. Using the optical method to measure NO production rates in turbulent flames will involve a tradeoff among spatial resolution, systematic photolysis error, and random shot noise. With the conventional laser system used in this work, a single pulse with a resolution of 700 mum measured NO production rates as low as 2×10sp{-3}\\ gmol/msp3-s with photolysis error less than a factor of two and random shot noise of 35%. By using a double-pulse technique and relaxing the spatial resolution to 2 mm, production rates down to 2×10sp{-5}\\ gmol/msp3-s can be measured with shot noise of 22%. Extension to two-dimensional imaging will require a multipass cell or very large pulse energy (˜200 mJ at 226 nm).

Functional and morphological characteristics of neuronal substance P in the canine gastroesophageal junction.

PubMed

Sandler, A D; Maher, J W; Weinstock, J V; Schmidt, C D; Schlegel, J F; Jew, J Y; Williams, T H

1993-10-01

The specific functions of the numerous substance P (SP) nerve fibers present within the gastrointestinal tract are not clearly defined. This study examines both functional aspects and distribution of immunoreactive SP (IR-SP) in the canine gastroesophageal junctional (GEJ) region. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse rate (PR), and respiratory rate (RR) were monitored before and after topical application of 2 ml capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) to the distal esophageal mucosa of anesthetized dogs. Animals then underwent a capsaicin desensitization protocol over a 12-day period. The responses of monitored variables were compared on Day 1 and Day 12 of repetitive capsaicin application. Immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay (RIA) were performed on GEJ segments to study the distribution and content of IR-SP in both control (untreated) and capsaicin-treated dogs. The IR-SP was extracted from tissue for RIA and analysis by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). On Day 1, a 2-ml capsaicin application stimulated increases in LESP (44.3 +/- 7.8 cm H2O; P < 0.05), MAP (48 +/- 8.7 mm Hg; P < 0.05), PR (52.6 +/- 20.5 beats/min; P < 0.05), and RR (26.3 +/- 15.6 breaths/min; P > 0.2). No response was observed on Day 12 of treatment. This was accompanied by a 43.3% decrease of IR-SP content in the mucosa of the distal esophagus of desensitized animals. Capsaicin applied at greater concentrations on Day 12 stimulated a return of responses (P < 0.05). Ganglia, cell bodies, nerve fascicles, and neurites stained positively for IR-SP. IR-SP content was markedly higher in esophageal mucosa than in gastric mucosa (P < 0.05). The authenticity of the IR-SP molecule was confirmed by elution time on HPLC. In conclusion, repetitive capsaicin application induced a state of homologous desensitization which was accompanied by a partial depletion of mucosal SP. The GEJ region contains a high SP content with a broad neural distribution. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that SP may act as a neurotransmitter for chemonociceptive stimuli in the canine distal esophagus.

[Application of continuous intra-arterial blood gas monitoring system "Paratrend 7" for pulmonary lavage of a patient with alveolar proteinosis].

PubMed

Harigae, M; Hirose, Y; Gamo, M; Hirose, M; Fujiwara, C; Matsuo, K

1999-03-01

We applied a continuous intra-arterial blood gas monitoring system (Paratrend 7) to a patient with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis during pulmonary lavage. Lavage was performed under general anesthesia with one lung ventilation. We inserted the sensor of Patatrend 7 through a 20 G catheter into the radial artery, and monitored pH, PaCO2 and PaO2 continuously throughout the procedure. SpO2 and EtCO2 were also monitored. Saline 1000-1500 ml was instilled and drained repeatedly by volume limited methods. PaO2 values by Paratrend 7 increased during instillation and decreased during drainage of the irrigating fluid. In contrast, PaCO2 value by Paratrend 7 decreased slightly during instillation and increased during drainage. The change of SpO2 was almost the same as that by Paratrend 7, but the response time of pulse oxymetry was a little quicker than Paratrend 7. During the lavage procedure, respiratory and circulatory condition changed very rapidly, and it is necessary to monitor blood gas change intensively. Paratrend 7 is useful as a perioperative monitoring system, but pulse oxymetry might be sufficient during pulmonary lavage considering its cost.

Antibacterial and anti-adherence effects of a plant extract mixture (PEM) and its individual constituent extracts (Psidium sp., Mangifera sp., and Mentha sp.) on single- and dual-species biofilms.

PubMed

Shafiei, Zaleha; Haji Abdul Rahim, Zubaidah; Philip, Koshy; Thurairajah, Nalina

2016-01-01

Plant extracts mixture (PEM) and its individual constituent plant extracts( Psidium sp., Mangifera sp., Mentha sp.) are known to have an anti-adhering effect towards oral bacteria in the single-species biofilm. To date, the adhering ability of the early and late plaque colonisers ( Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus mutans ) to PEM-treated experimental pellicle have not been investigated in dual-species biofilms. Fresh leaves of these plants were used in the preparation of the respective aqueous extract decoctions. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts towards S. sanguinis ATCC BAA-1455 and S. mutans ATCC 25175 was determined using a two-fold serial microdilution method. The sum of fractional inhibitory concentration (ΣFIC) index of PEM and its constituent plant extracts was calculated using the MIC values of the plants. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the plant extracts was also determined. The anti-adherence effect of the plant extracts (individually and mixed) was carried out by developing simulated S. sanguinis and S. mutans respectively in single- and dual-species of biofilms in the Nordini's Artificial Mouth (NAM) model system in which the experimental pellicle was pretreated with the plant extract before bacterial inoculation. The bacterial population in the respective biofilms was quantified using ten-fold serial dilutions method and expressed as colony forming unit per ml (CFU/ml). The bacterial population was also viewed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). All experiments were done in triplicate. The PEM compared with its respective constituent plants showed the lowest MIC towards S. sanguinis (3.81 mg/ml) and S. mutans (1.91 mg/ml) and exhibited a synergistic effect. The Psidium sp. (15.24 mg/ml) and, PEM and Psidium sp. (30.48 mg/ml) showed the lowest MBC towards S. sanguinis and S. mutans respectively. The anti-adherence effect of the PEM and its respective constituent plants (except Psidium sp.) was different for the two bacteria in the single-species biofilm. In the dual-species biofilms, PEM demonstrated similar anti-adherence effect towards S. sanguinis and S. mutans . The proportions of the bacterial population viewed under SEM appeared to be in agreement with the quantified population. The combination of the active constituents of the individual plant extracts in PEM may contribute to its low MIC giving rise to the synergistic effect. The different anti-adherence effect towards S. sanguinis and S. mutans in both single- and dual-species biofilms could be due to the different proportion of the active constituents of the extracts and the interaction between different bacteria. The better adhering ability of S. sanguinis towards the PEM-treated pellicle when present together with S. mutans in the dual-species biofilms may suggest the potential of PEM in controlling the balance between the early and late colonisers in biofilms.

Antibacterial and anti-adherence effects of a plant extract mixture (PEM) and its individual constituent extracts (Psidium sp., Mangifera sp., and Mentha sp.) on single- and dual-species biofilms

PubMed Central

Shafiei, Zaleha; Haji Abdul Rahim, Zubaidah; Thurairajah, Nalina

2016-01-01

Background Plant extracts mixture (PEM) and its individual constituent plant extracts(Psidium sp., Mangifera sp., Mentha sp.) are known to have an anti-adhering effect towards oral bacteria in the single-species biofilm. To date, the adhering ability of the early and late plaque colonisers (Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus mutans) to PEM-treated experimental pellicle have not been investigated in dual-species biofilms. Methods Fresh leaves of these plants were used in the preparation of the respective aqueous extract decoctions. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts towards S. sanguinis ATCC BAA-1455 and S. mutans ATCC 25175 was determined using a two-fold serial microdilution method. The sum of fractional inhibitory concentration (ΣFIC) index of PEM and its constituent plant extracts was calculated using the MIC values of the plants. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the plant extracts was also determined. The anti-adherence effect of the plant extracts (individually and mixed) was carried out by developing simulated S. sanguinis and S. mutans respectively in single- and dual-species of biofilms in the Nordini’s Artificial Mouth (NAM) model system in which the experimental pellicle was pretreated with the plant extract before bacterial inoculation. The bacterial population in the respective biofilms was quantified using ten-fold serial dilutions method and expressed as colony forming unit per ml (CFU/ml). The bacterial population was also viewed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). All experiments were done in triplicate. Results The PEM compared with its respective constituent plants showed the lowest MIC towards S. sanguinis (3.81 mg/ml) and S. mutans (1.91 mg/ml) and exhibited a synergistic effect. The Psidium sp. (15.24 mg/ml) and, PEM and Psidium sp. (30.48 mg/ml) showed the lowest MBC towards S. sanguinis and S. mutans respectively. The anti-adherence effect of the PEM and its respective constituent plants (except Psidium sp.) was different for the two bacteria in the single-species biofilm. In the dual-species biofilms, PEM demonstrated similar anti-adherence effect towards S. sanguinis and S. mutans. The proportions of the bacterial population viewed under SEM appeared to be in agreement with the quantified population. Discussion The combination of the active constituents of the individual plant extracts in PEM may contribute to its low MIC giving rise to the synergistic effect. The different anti-adherence effect towards S. sanguinis and S. mutans in both single- and dual-species biofilms could be due to the different proportion of the active constituents of the extracts and the interaction between different bacteria. The better adhering ability of S. sanguinis towards the PEM-treated pellicle when present together with S. mutans in the dual-species biofilms may suggest the potential of PEM in controlling the balance between the early and late colonisers in biofilms. PMID:27761322

Repetitive pulses and laser-induced retinal injury thresholds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lund, David J.

2007-02-01

Experimental studies with repetitively pulsed lasers show that the ED 50, expressed as energy per pulse, varies as the inverse fourth power of the number of pulses in the exposure, relatively independently of the wavelength, pulse duration, or pulse repetition frequency of the laser. Models based on a thermal damage mechanism cannot readily explain this result. Menendez et al. proposed a probability-summation model for predicting the threshold for a train of pulses based on the probit statistics for a single pulse. The model assumed that each pulse is an independent trial, unaffected by any other pulse in the train of pulses and assumes that the probability of damage for a single pulse is adequately described by the logistic curve. The requirement that the effect of each pulse in the pulse train be unaffected by the effects of other pulses in the train is a showstopper when the end effect is viewed as a thermal effect with each pulse in the train contributing to the end temperature of the target tissue. There is evidence that the induction of cell death by microcavitation bubbles around melanin granules heated by incident laser irradiation can satisfy the condition of pulse independence as required by the probability summation model. This paper will summarize the experimental data and discuss the relevance of the probability summation model given microcavitation as a damage mechanism.

Single-pulse and burst-mode ablation of gold films measured by quartz crystal microbalance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrusyak, Oleksiy G.; Bubelnik, Matthew; Mares, Jeremy; McGovern, Theresa; Siders, Craig W.

2005-02-01

Femtosecond ablation has several distinct advantages: the threshold energy fluence for the onset of damage and ablation is orders of magnitude less than for traditional nanosecond laser machining, and by virtue of the rapid material removal of approximately an optical penetration depth per pulse, femtosecond machined cuts can be cleaner and more precise than those made with traditional nanosecond or longer pulse lasers. However, in many materials of interest, especially metals, this limits ablation rates to 10-100 nm/pulse. We present the results of using multiple pulse bursts to significantly increase the per-burst ablation rate compared to a single pulse with the same integrated energy, while keeping the peak intensity of each individual pulse below the air ionization limit. Femtosecond ablation with pulses centered at 800-nm having integrated energy of up to 30 mJ per pulse incident upon thin gold films was measured via resonance frequency shifts in a gold-electrode-coated quartz-crystal oscillator. Measurements were performed using Michelson-interferometer-based burst generators, with up to 2 ns pulse separations, as well as pulse shaping by programmable acousto-optic dispersive filter (Dazzler from FastLite) with up to 2 ps pulse separations.

Detecting obstructive sleep apnea in children by self-affine visualization of oximetry.

PubMed

Garde, Ainara; Dekhordi, Parastoo; Petersen, Christian L; Ansermino, J Mark; Dumont, Guy A

2017-07-01

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), characterized by cessations of breathing during sleep due to upper airway collapse, can affect the healthy growth and development of children. The gold standard for OSA diagnosis, polysomnography(PSG), is expensive and resource intensive, resulting in long waiting lists to perform a PSG. Previously, we investigated the time-frequency analysis of blood oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) to screen for OSA. We used overnight pulse oximetry from 146 children, collected using a smartphone-based pulse oximeter (Phone Oximeter), simultaneously with standard PSG. Sleep technicians manually scored PSG and provided the average of apnea/hypoapnea events per hour (AHI). In this study, we proposed an alternative method for analyzing SpO 2 , in which a set of contracting transformations form a self-affine set with a 2D attractor, previously developed for qualitative visualization of the photoplethysmogram and electroencephalogram. We applied this technique to the overnight SpO 2 signal from individual patients and extracted features based on the distribution of points (radius and angle) in the visualization. The cloud of points in children without OSA (NonOSA) was more confined than in children with OSA, which was reflected by more empty pixels (radius and angles). The maximum value, skewness and standard deviation of the distribution of points located at different radius and angles were significantly (Bonferroni corrected) higher in NonOSA compared to OSA children. To detect OSA defined at different levels (AHI≥5, AHI≥10 and AHI≥15), three multivariate logistic regression models were implemented using a stepwise feature selection and internally validated through bootstrapping. The models (AHI≥5, AHI≥10, AHI≥15), consisting of 3, 4 and 1 features respectively, provided a bootstrap-corrected AUC of 73%, 81%, 73%. Thus, applying this visualization to nocturnal SpO 2 could yield both visual and quantitative information that might be useful for screening children for OSA.

Continuous, noninvasive, and localized microvascular tissue oximetry using visible light spectroscopy.

PubMed

Benaron, David A; Parachikov, Ilian H; Friedland, Shai; Soetikno, Roy; Brock-Utne, John; van der Starre, Peter J A; Nezhat, Camran; Terris, Martha K; Maxim, Peter G; Carson, Jeffrey J L; Razavi, Mahmood K; Gladstone, Hayes B; Fincher, Edgar F; Hsu, Christopher P; Clark, F Landon; Cheong, Wai-Fung; Duckworth, Joshua L; Stevenson, David K

2004-06-01

The authors evaluated the ability of visible light spectroscopy (VLS) oximetry to detect hypoxemia and ischemia in human and animal subjects. Unlike near-infrared spectroscopy or pulse oximetry (SpO2), VLS tissue oximetry uses shallow-penetrating visible light to measure microvascular hemoglobin oxygen saturation (StO2) in small, thin tissue volumes. In pigs, StO2 was measured in muscle and enteric mucosa during normoxia, hypoxemia (SpO2 = 40-96%), and ischemia (occlusion, arrest). In patients, StO2 was measured in skin, muscle, and oral/enteric mucosa during normoxia, hypoxemia (SpO2 = 60-99%), and ischemia (occlusion, compression, ventricular fibrillation). In pigs, normoxic StO2 was 71 +/- 4% (mean +/- SD), without differences between sites, and decreased during hypoxemia (muscle, 11 +/- 6%; P < 0.001) and ischemia (colon, 31 +/- 11%; P < 0.001). In patients, mean normoxic StO2 ranged from 68 to 77% at different sites (733 measures, 111 subjects); for each noninvasive site except skin, variance between subjects was low (e.g., colon, 69% +/- 4%, 40 subjects; buccal, 77% +/- 3%, 21 subjects). During hypoxemia, StO2 correlated with SpO2 (animals, r2 = 0.98; humans, r2 = 0.87). During ischemia, StO2 initially decreased at -1.3 +/- 0.2%/s and decreased to zero in 3-9 min (r2 = 0.94). Ischemia was distinguished from normoxia and hypoxemia by a widened pulse/VLS saturation difference (Delta < 30% during normoxia or hypoxemia vs. Delta > 35% during ischemia). VLS oximetry provides a continuous, noninvasive, and localized measurement of the StO2, sensitive to hypoxemia, regional, and global ischemia. The reproducible and narrow StO2 normal range for oral/enteric mucosa supports use of this site as an accessible and reliable reference point for the VLS monitoring of systemic flow.

The random walk of a drilling laser beam

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anthony, T. R.

1980-01-01

The disregistry of holes drilled with a pulse laser beam in 330-micron-thick single-crystal silicon-on-sapphire wafers is examined. The exit positions of the holes were displaced from the hole entrance positions on the opposing face of the wafer, and this random displacement increased with the number of laser pulses required. A model in which the bottom of the drill hole experiences small random displacements during each laser pulse is used to describe the experimental observations. It is shown that the average random displacement caused by each pulse is only a few percent of the hole diameter and can be reduced by using as few laser pulses as necessary while avoiding the cracking and spalling of the wafer that occur with a hole drilled with a single pulse.

Superconducting Qubit with Integrated Single Flux Quantum Controller Part II: Experimental Characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leonard, Edward, Jr.; Beck, Matthew; Thorbeck, Ted; Zhu, Shaojiang; Howington, Caleb; Nelson, Jj; Plourde, Britton; McDermott, Robert

We describe the characterization of a single flux quantum (SFQ) pulse generator cofabricated with a superconducting quantum circuit on a single chip. Resonant trains of SFQ pulses are used to induce coherent qubit rotations on the Bloch sphere. We describe the SFQ drive characteristics of the qubit at the fundamental transition frequency and at subharmonics (ω01 / n , n = 2 , 3 , 4 , ⋯). We address the issue of quasiparticle poisoning due to the proximal SFQ pulse generator, and we characterize the fidelity of SFQ-based rotations using randomized benchmarking. Present address: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center.

Wavelength-dependence of double optical gating for attosecond pulse generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Jia; Li, Min; Yu, Ji-Zhou; Deng, Yong-Kai; Liu, Yun-Quan

2014-10-01

Both polarization gating (PG) and double optical gating (DOG) are productive methods to generate single attosecond (as) pulses. In this paper, considering the ground-state depletion effect, we investigate the wavelength-dependence of the DOG method in order to optimize the generation of single attosecond pulses for the future application. By calculating the ionization probabilities of the leading edge of the pulse at different driving laser wavelengths, we obtain the upper limit of duration for the driving laser pulse for the DOG setup. We find that the upper limit duration increases with the increase of laser wavelength. We further describe the technical method of choosing and calculating the thickness values of optical components for the DOG setup.

Pulse shape measurements using single shot-frequency resolved optical gating for high energy (80 J) short pulse (600 fs) laser

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Palaniyappan, S.; Johnson, R.; Shimada, T.

2010-10-15

Relevant to laser based electron/ion accelerations, a single shot second harmonic generation frequency resolved optical gating (FROG) system has been developed to characterize laser pulses (80 J, {approx}600 fs) incident on and transmitted through nanofoil targets, employing relay imaging, spatial filter, and partially coated glass substrates to reduce spatial nonuniformity and B-integral. The device can be completely aligned without using a pulsed laser source. Variations of incident pulse shape were measured from durations of 613 fs (nearly symmetric shape) to 571 fs (asymmetric shape with pre- or postpulse). The FROG measurements are consistent with independent spectral and autocorrelation measurements.

Single-shot detection and direct control of carrier phase drift of midinfrared pulses.

PubMed

Manzoni, Cristian; Först, Michael; Ehrke, Henri; Cavalleri, Andrea

2010-03-01

We introduce a scheme for single-shot detection and correction of the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) drift of femtosecond pulses at mid-IR wavelengths. Difference frequency mixing between the mid-IR field and a near-IR gate pulse generates a near-IR frequency-shifted pulse, which is then spectrally interfered with a replica of the gate pulse. The spectral interference pattern contains shot-to-shot information of the CEP of the mid-IR field, and it can be used for simultaneous correction of its slow drifts. We apply this technique to detect and compensate long-term phase drifts at 17 microm wavelength, reducing fluctuations to only 110 mrad over hours of operation.

Multiple frequency optical mixer and demultiplexer and apparatus for remote sensing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Jeffrey R. (Inventor)

2010-01-01

A pulsed laser system includes a modulator module configured to provide pulsed electrical signals and a plurality of solid-state seed sources coupled to the modulator module and configured to operate, responsive to the pulsed electrical signals, in a pulse mode. Each of the plurality of solid-state seed sources is tuned to a different frequency channel separated from any adjacent frequency channel by a frequency offset. The pulsed laser system also includes a combiner that combines outputs from each of the solid state seed sources into a single optical path and an optical doubler and demultiplexer coupled to the single optical path and providing each doubled seed frequency on a separate output path.

Single-shot high-resolution characterization of optical pulses by spectral phase diversity

DOE PAGES

Dorrer, C.; Waxer, L. J.; Kalb, A.; ...

2015-12-15

The concept of spectral phase diversity is proposed and applied to the temporal characterization of optical pulses. The experimental trace is composed of the measured power of a plurality of ancillary optical pulses derived from the pulse under test by adding known amounts of chromatic dispersion. The spectral phase of the pulse under test is retrieved by minimizing the error between the experimental trace and a trace calculated from the optical spectrum using the known diagnostic parameters. An assembly composed of splitters and dispersive delay fibers has been used to generate 64 ancillary pulses whose instantaneous power can be detectedmore » in a single shot with a high-bandwidth photodiode and oscilloscope. Pulse-shape reconstruction for pulses shorter than the photodetection impulse response has been demonstrated.The diagnostic is experimentally shown to accurately characterize pulses from a chirped-pulse–amplification system when its stretcher is detuned from the position for optimal recompression. As a result, various investigations of the performance with respect to the number of ancillary pulses and the range of chromatic dispersion generated in the diagnostic are presented.« less

Single-shot high-resolution characterization of optical pulses by spectral phase diversity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dorrer, C.; Waxer, L. J.; Kalb, A.

The concept of spectral phase diversity is proposed and applied to the temporal characterization of optical pulses. The experimental trace is composed of the measured power of a plurality of ancillary optical pulses derived from the pulse under test by adding known amounts of chromatic dispersion. The spectral phase of the pulse under test is retrieved by minimizing the error between the experimental trace and a trace calculated from the optical spectrum using the known diagnostic parameters. An assembly composed of splitters and dispersive delay fibers has been used to generate 64 ancillary pulses whose instantaneous power can be detectedmore » in a single shot with a high-bandwidth photodiode and oscilloscope. Pulse-shape reconstruction for pulses shorter than the photodetection impulse response has been demonstrated.The diagnostic is experimentally shown to accurately characterize pulses from a chirped-pulse–amplification system when its stretcher is detuned from the position for optimal recompression. As a result, various investigations of the performance with respect to the number of ancillary pulses and the range of chromatic dispersion generated in the diagnostic are presented.« less

Comparison of the effects of dietary single and multi-probiotics on growth, non-specific immune responses and disease resistance in starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus.

PubMed

Park, Youngjin; Moniruzzaman, Mohammad; Lee, Seunghan; Hong, Jeongwhui; Won, Seonghun; Lee, Jong Min; Yun, Hyeonho; Kim, Kang-Woong; Ko, Daegyun; Bai, Sungchul C

2016-12-01

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary probiotics on growth performance and non-specific immune responses in starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus. Fish averaging 46.5 ± 0.65 g (mean ± SD) were fed one of the six experimental diets; one control (Cont), and five other diets were prepared by supplementing single-probiotics 1 (Bacillus subtilis; SP 1 , 2 × 10 9  CFU kg -1 diet), single-probiotics 2 (Bacillus licheniformis; SP 2 , 2 × 10 9  CFU kg -1 diet), multi-probiotics 1 (Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus licheniformis; MP 1 , 2 × 10 9  CFU kg -1 diet), multi-probiotics 2 (commercial probiotics; Bacillus subtills + Bacillus licheniformis + Paenibacillus polymyxa + Aspergillus oryzae + Saccharomyces cerevisiae; MP 2 , 2 × 10 9  CFU kg -1 diet) and oxytetracycline (OTC) at 5 g OTC kg -1 diet. At the end of 8 weeks feeding trial, weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed SP 1 , MP 1 and MP 2 diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed control diet (P < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of fish fed MP 2 diet was significantly higher than those of fish fed OTC diet (P < 0.05). Nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) activity and lysozyme activity of fish fed SP 1 , MP 1 and MP 2 diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed OTC diet (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference among fish fed SP 1 , SP 2 , MP 1 and MP 2 diets. During the Edwardsiella tarda challenge test, the first mortality occurred on day 2. After the 14 days challenge test, cumulative survival rate of fish fed MP 1 and MP 2 diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed control diet (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference among fish fed SP 1 , SP 2 , MP 1 , MP 2 and OTC diets in survival rate at the termination of the challenge test. Although there was little advantage in immunological parameters with fish fed MP diets, single and multi-probiotics were equally effective statistically. These results demonstrated that single or multi-probiotics had equal beneficial effect as an antibiotic replacer in terms of growth performance, non-specific immune responses and disease resistance in starry flounder. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

An, Bo; Jenkins, Janelle E; Sampath, Sujatha

Dragline silk from orb-weaving spiders is a copolymer of two large proteins, major ampullate spidroin 1 (MaSp1) and 2 (MaSp2). The ratio of these proteins is known to have a large variation across different species of orb-weaving spiders. NMR results from gland material of two different species of spiders, N. clavipes and A. aurantia, indicates that MaSp1 proteins are more easily formed into β-sheet nanostructures, while MaSp2 proteins form random coil and helical structures. To test if this behavior of natural silk proteins could be reproduced by recombinantly produced spider silk mimic protein, recombinant MaSp1/MaSp2 mixed fibers as well asmore » chimeric silk fibers from MaSp1 and MaSp2 sequences in a single protein were produced based on the variable ratio and conserved motifs of MaSp1 and MaSp2 in native silk fiber. Mechanical properties, solid-state NMR, and XRD results of tested synthetic fibers indicate the differing roles of MaSp1 and MaSp2 in the fiber and verify the importance of postspin stretching treatment in helping the fiber to form the proper spatial structure.« less

Exploiting temporal gradients of antibiotic concentration against the emergence of resistance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bauer, Marianne; Ngampruetikorn, Vudtiwat; Frey, Erwin; Stephens, Greg

A very simple model for antibiotic resistance - involving one normal and one more resistant species interacting indirectly through a carrying capacity - shows that the temporal variation of the antibiotic can affect the effect of the antibiotic. For a single antibiotic pulse, we find that for different minimal inhibitory concentrations of the two species an optimal pulse shape may exist, which increases the likelihood of bacterial extinction. For a long series of pulses, efficiency does not vary monotonically with the length of the gap between two individual pulses, but instead, the gap length can be optimised by exploiting the competition between the two species. Finally, a series of pulses is not always more efficient than a single pulse. Shorter pulses may be more efficient in an initial time window without risking population level resistance. We elucidate this behaviour with a phase diagram, and discuss the meaning of this work for current experiments. (equally contributing author).

Reactive nanolaminate pulsed-laser ignition mechanism: Modeling and experimental evidence of diffusion limited reactions

DOE PAGES

Yarrington, C. D.; Abere, M. J.; Adams, D. P.; ...

2017-04-03

We irradiated Al/Pt nanolaminates with a bilayer thickness (tb, width of an Al/Pt pair-layer) of 164 nm with single laser pulses with durations of 10 ms and 0.5 ms at 189 W/cm 2 and 1189 W/cm 2, respectively. The time to ignition was measured for each pulse, and shorter ignition times were observed for the higher power/shorter pulse width. While the shorter pulse shows uniform brightness, videographic images of the irradiated area shortly after ignition show a non-uniform radial brightness for the longer pulse. A diffusion-limited single step reaction mechanism was implemented in a finite element package to model themore » progress from reactants to products at both pulse widths. Finally, the model captures well both the observed ignition delay and qualitative observations regarding the non-uniform radial temperature.« less

Production of fullerenes and single-wall carbon nanotubes by high-temperature pulsed arc discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugai, Toshiki; Omote, Hideki; Bandow, Shunji; Tanaka, Nobuo; Shinohara, Hisanori

2000-04-01

Fullerenes and single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been produced for the first time by the high-temperature pulsed arc-discharge technique, which has developed in this laboratory. Fullerenes are identified quantitatively by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations reveal a significant amount of production of bundles of SWNTs in soot. The pulse arc production of fullerenes and SWNTs favors the high-temperature (⩾1000 °C), long pulses (⩾1 ms) and a heavy rare gas such as Ar or Kr as a buffer gas. We have found that fullerenes and SWNTs have complementary relationships in their early stage of production. The details of the pulsed arc discharge have been obtained by observing the transition from the pulsed arc discharge to the steady arc discharge while increasing the pulse width.

Analysis of DC control in double-inlet GM type pulse tube refrigerators for detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, B. Y.

2016-10-01

Pulse tube refrigerators have demonstrated many advantages with respect to temperature stability, vibration, reliability and lifetime among cryo-coolers for detectors. Double-inlet type pulse tube refrigerators are popular in GM type pulse tube refrigerators. The single double-inlet valve may introduce DC flow in refrigerator, which deteriorates the performance of pulse tube refrigerator. One new type of DC control mode is introduced in this paper. Two parallel-placed needle valves with opposite direction named double-valve configuration, instead of single double-inlet valve, are used in our experiment to reduce the DC flow. With two double-inlet operating, the lowest cold end temperature of 18.1K and a coolant of 1.2W@20K have been obtained. It has proved that this method is useful for controlling DC flow of the pulse tube refrigerators, which is very important to understand the characters of pulse tube refrigerators for detectors.

Clinical evaluation of new automatic coronary-specific best cardiac phase selection algorithm for single-beat coronary CT angiography.

PubMed

Wang, Hui; Xu, Lei; Fan, Zhanming; Liang, Junfu; Yan, Zixu; Sun, Zhonghua

2017-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the workflow efficiency of a new automatic coronary-specific reconstruction technique (Smart Phase, GE Healthcare-SP) for selection of the best cardiac phase with least coronary motion when compared with expert manual selection (MS) of best phase in patients with high heart rate. A total of 46 patients with heart rates above 75 bpm who underwent single beat coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) were enrolled in this study. CCTA of all subjects were performed on a 256-detector row CT scanner (Revolution CT, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, Wisconsin, US). With the SP technique, the acquired phase range was automatically searched in 2% phase intervals during the reconstruction process to determine the optimal phase for coronary assessment, while for routine expert MS, reconstructions were performed at 5% intervals and a best phase was manually determined. The reconstruction and review times were recorded to measure the workflow efficiency for each method. Two reviewers subjectively assessed image quality for each coronary artery in the MS and SP reconstruction volumes using a 4-point grading scale. The average HR of the enrolled patients was 91.1±19.0bpm. A total of 204 vessels were assessed. The subjective image quality using SP was comparable to that of the MS, 1.45±0.85 vs 1.43±0.81 respectively (p = 0.88). The average time was 246 seconds for the manual best phase selection, and 98 seconds for the SP selection, resulting in average time saving of 148 seconds (60%) with use of the SP algorithm. The coronary specific automatic cardiac best phase selection technique (Smart Phase) improves clinical workflow in high heart rate patients and provides image quality comparable with manual cardiac best phase selection. Reconstruction of single-beat CCTA exams with SP can benefit the users with less experienced in CCTA image interpretation.

Single Versus Customized Treatment Planning for Image-guided High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer: Dosimetric Comparison and Predicting Factor for Organs at Risk Overdose With Single Plan Approach

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chi, Alexander; Gao Mingcheng; Sinacore, James

2009-09-01

Purpose: To compare the dose distribution between customized planning (CP) and adopting a single plan (SP) in multifractionated high-dose-rate brachytherapy and to establish predictors for the necessity of CP in a given patient. Methods and Materials: A total of 50 computed tomography-based plans for 10 patients were evaluated. Each patient had received 6 Gy for five fractions. The clinical target volume and organs at risk (i.e., rectum, bladder, sigmoid, and small bowel) were delineated on each computed tomography scan. For the SP approach, the same dwell position and time was used for all fractions. For the CP approach, the dwellmore » position and time were reoptimized for each fraction. Applicator position variation was determined by measuring the distance between the posterior bladder wall and the tandem at the level of the vaginal fornices. Results: The organs at risk D{sub 2cc} (dose to 2 cc volume) was increased with the SP approach. The dose variation was statistically similar between the tandem and ring and tandem and ovoid groups. The bladder D{sub 2cc} dose was 81.95-105.42 Gy{sub 2} for CP and 82.11-122.49 Gy{sub 2} for SP. In 5 of the 10 patients, the bladder would have been significantly overdosed with the SP approach. The variation of the posterior bladder wall distance from that in the first fraction was correlated with the increase in the bladder D{sub 2cc} (SP/CP), with a correlation coefficient of -0.59. Conclusion: Our results support the use of CP instead of the SP approach to help avoid a significant overdose to the bladder. This is especially true for a decrease in the posterior wall distance of {>=}0.5 cm compared with that in the first fraction.« less

Single-molecule detection of proteins with antigen-antibody interaction using resistive-pulse sensing of submicron latex particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takakura, T.; Yanagi, I.; Goto, Y.; Ishige, Y.; Kohara, Y.

2016-03-01

We developed a resistive-pulse sensor with a solid-state pore and measured the latex agglutination of submicron particles induced by antigen-antibody interaction for single-molecule detection of proteins. We fabricated the pore based on numerical simulation to clearly distinguish between monomer and dimer latex particles. By measuring single dimers agglutinated in the single-molecule regime, we detected single human alpha-fetoprotein molecules. Adjusting the initial particle concentration improves the limit of detection (LOD) to 95 fmol/l. We established a theoretical model of the LOD by combining the reaction kinetics and the counting statistics to explain the effect of initial particle concentration on the LOD. The theoretical model shows how to improve the LOD quantitatively. The single-molecule detection studied here indicates the feasibility of implementing a highly sensitive immunoassay by a simple measurement method using resistive-pulse sensing.

Formulation of a minimal nutritional medium for enhanced lipid productivity in Chlorella sp. and Botryococcus sp. using response surface methodology.

PubMed

Vishwakarma, Rashi; Dhar, Dolly Wattal; Pabbi, Sunil

2018-03-01

Chlorella sp. MCC 7 and Botryococcus sp. MCC 31 were investigated to enable large-scale biodiesel production from minimal constituents in the growth medium. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to maximise the biomass productivity and lipid yield using only nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) as urea, single super phosphate and muriate of potash. The optimum values were 0.42 g/L nitrogen; 0.14 g/L phosphorus and 0.22 g/L potassium for Chlorella sp.; and 0.46 g/L; 0.14 g/L and 0.25 g/L for Botryococcus sp. Lipid yield of 42% for Chlorella sp. and 52% in Botryococcus sp. was observed. An enhancement in lipid yield by approximately 55% for Chlorella sp. and 73% for Botryococcus sp. was registered as compared to original nutrient medium. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis of extracted lipids revealed characteristic bands for triglycerides. This study provided utilisation of a practicable nutrient recipe in the form of N, P, K input for enhanced lipid yield from the selected microalgal strains.

Laser plasma x-ray source for ultrafast time-resolved x-ray absorption spectroscopy

DOE PAGES

Miaja-Avila, L.; O'Neil, G. C.; Uhlig, J.; ...

2015-03-02

We describe a laser-driven x-ray plasma source designed for ultrafast x-ray absorption spectroscopy. The source is comprised of a 1 kHz, 20 W, femtosecond pulsed infrared laser and a water target. We present the x-ray spectra as a function of laser energy and pulse duration. Additionally, we investigate the plasma temperature and photon flux as we vary the laser energy. We obtain a 75 μm FWHM x-ray spot size, containing ~10 6 photons/s, by focusing the produced x-rays with a polycapillary optic. Since the acquisition of x-ray absorption spectra requires the averaging of measurements from >10 7 laser pulses, wemore » also present data on the source stability, including single pulse measurements of the x-ray yield and the x-ray spectral shape. In single pulse measurements, the x-ray flux has a measured standard deviation of 8%, where the laser pointing is the main cause of variability. Further, we show that the variability in x-ray spectral shape from single pulses is low, thus justifying the combining of x-rays obtained from different laser pulses into a single spectrum. Finally, we show a static x-ray absorption spectrum of a ferrioxalate solution as detected by a microcalorimeter array. Altogether, our results demonstrate that this water-jet based plasma source is a suitable candidate for laboratory-based time-resolved x-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments.« less

A novel method to study single-particle dynamics by the resistive pulse technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berge, L. I.; Feder, J.; Jøssang, T.

1989-08-01

We have developed a new method, a pressure-reversal technique, which extends the uses of the resistive pulse (Coulter counter) technique to single-particle dynamics. The resistive pulse technique measures the increase in resistance when particles suspended in an electrolyte are transported through a current-carrying aperture. By the new method, the pressure is reversed when a particle exits the pore. A trigger signal, derived from the particle pulses, is used to activate two miniature solenoid valves which serve as pressure switches. In this way, the particle reenters the pore. A single particle flowing back and forth may be studied over a long period of time. The time the particle spends outside the pore between reversals is variable from a few milliseconds to several seconds. We have so far used pore diameters in the range of 3-30 μm. The new technique enables us to study single-particle dissolution and single-particle flow dynamics. The experimental arrangement and the details of the new method are described together with some illustrative measurements.

Focus characterization at an X-ray free-electron laser by coherent scattering and speckle analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sikorski, Marcin; Song, Sanghoon; Schropp, Andreas

2015-04-14

X-ray focus optimization and characterization based on coherent scattering and quantitative speckle size measurements was demonstrated at the Linac Coherent Light Source. Its performance as a single-pulse free-electron laser beam diagnostic was tested for two typical focusing configurations. The results derived from the speckle size/shape analysis show the effectiveness of this technique in finding the focus' location, size and shape. In addition, its single-pulse compatibility enables users to capture pulse-to-pulse fluctuations in focus properties compared with other techniques that require scanning and averaging.

Toward ambient temperature operation with all-solid-state lithium metal batteries with a sp3 boron-based solid single ion conducting polymer electrolyte

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yunfeng; Cai, Weiwei; Rohan, Rupesh; Pan, Meize; Liu, Yuan; Liu, Xupo; Li, Cuicui; Sun, Yubao; Cheng, Hansong

2016-02-01

The ionic conductivity decay problem of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) when increase the lithium salt of the SPEs up to high concentration is here functionally overcome by the incorporation of a charge delocalized sp3 boron based single ion conducting polymer electrolyte (SIPE) with poly(ethylene oxide) to fabricate solid-state sp3 boron based SIPE membranes (S-BSMs). By characterizations, particularly differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and ionic conductivity studies, the fabricated S-BSMs showed decreased melting points and increased ionic conductivity as steadily increase the content of sp3 boron based SIPE, which significantly improved the low temperature performance of the all-solid-state lithium batteries. The fabricated Li | S-BSMs | LiFePO4 cells exhibit highly electrochemical stability and excellent cycling at temperature below melting point of PEO, which has never been reported so far for SIPEs based all-solid-state lithium batteries.

SP2 Deployment at Boston College—Aerodyne-Led Coated Black Carbon Study (BC4) Final Campaign Summary

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Onasch, T. B.; Sedlacek, A. J.

The main objective of the Boston College-Aerodyne led laboratory study (BC4) was to measure the optical properties of black carbon (BC) particles from a diffusion flame directly and after being coated with secondary organic and inorganic material and to achieve optical closure with model predictions. The measurements of single particle BC mass and population mixing states provided by a single particle soot photometer (SP2) was central to achieving the laboratory-based study’s objective. Specifically, the DOE ARM SP2 instrument participated in the BC4 project to address the following scientific questions: 1. What is the mass-specific absorption coefficient as a function ofmore » secondary organic and inorganic material coatings? 2. What is the spread in the population mixing states within our carefully generated laboratory particles? 3. How does the SP2 instrument respond to well-characterized, internally mixed BC-containing particles?« less

Salinity induced oxidative stress enhanced biofuel production potential of microalgae Scenedesmus sp. CCNM 1077.

PubMed

Pancha, Imran; Chokshi, Kaumeel; Maurya, Rahulkumar; Trivedi, Khanjan; Patidar, Shailesh Kumar; Ghosh, Arup; Mishra, Sandhya

2015-01-01

Microalgal biomass is considered as potential feedstock for biofuel production. Enhancement of biomass, lipid and carbohydrate contents in microalgae is important for the commercialization of microalgal biofuels. In the present study, salinity stress induced physiological and biochemical changes in microalgae Scenedesmus sp. CCNM 1077 were studied. During single stage cultivation, 33.13% lipid and 35.91% carbohydrate content was found in 400 mM NaCl grown culture. During two stage cultivation, salinity stress of 400 mM for 3 days resulted in 24.77% lipid (containing 74.87% neutral lipid) along with higher biomass compared to single stage, making it an efficient strategy to enhance biofuel production potential of Scenedesmus sp. CCNM 1077. Apart from biochemical content, stress biomarkers like hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation, ascorbate peroxidase, proline and mineral contents were also studied to understand the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated lipid accumulation in microalgae Scenedesmus sp. CCNM 1077. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electron acceleration and high harmonic generation by relativistic surface plasmons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cantono, Giada; Luca Fedeli Team; Andrea Sgattoni Team; Andrea Macchi Team; Tiberio Ceccotti Team

2016-10-01

Intense, short laser pulses with ultra-high contrast allow resonant surface plasmons (SPs) excitation on solid wavelength-scale grating targets, opening the way to the extension of Plasmonics in the relativistic regime and the manipulation of intense electromagnetic fields to develop new short, energetic, laser-synchronized radiation sources. Recent theoretical and experimental studies have explored the role of SP excitation in increasing the laser-target coupling and enhancing ion acceleration, high-order harmonic generation and surface electron acceleration. Here we present our results on SP driven electron acceleration from grating targets at ultra-high laser intensities (I = 5 ×1019 W/cm2, τ = 25 fs). When the resonant condition for SP excitation is fulfilled, electrons are emitted in a narrow cone along the target surface, with a total charge of about 100 pC and energy spectra peaked around 5 MeV. Distinguishing features of the resonant process were investigated by varying the incidence angle, grating type and with the support of 3D PIC simulations, which closely reproduced the experimental data. Open challenges and further measurements on high-order harmonic generation in presence of a relativistic SP will also be discussed.

Microspectroscopic imaging of solution plasma: How do its physical properties and chemical species evolve in atmospheric-pressure water vapor bubbles?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yui, Hiroharu; Banno, Motohiro

2018-01-01

In this article, we review the development of scientific instruments for obtaining information on the evolution of physical properties and chemical species of solution plasma (SP). When a pulsed high voltage is applied between electrodes immersed in an aqueous solution, SP is formed in water vapor bubbles transiently generated in the solution under atmospheric pressure. To clarify how SP emerges in water vapor bubbles and is sustained in solutions, an instrument with micrometer spatial resolution and nanosecond temporal resolution is required. To meet these requirements, a microscopic system with a custom-made optical discharge cell was newly developed, where the working distance between the SP and the microscopic objective lens was minimized. A hollow electrode equipped in the discharge cell also enabled us to control the chemical composition in water vapor bubbles. To study the spatial and temporal evolutions of chemical species in micrometer and nano- to microsecond regions, a streak camera with a spectrometer and a CCD detector with a time-gated electronic device were combined with the microscope system. The developed instrument is expected to contribute to providing a new means of developing new schemes for chemical reactions and material syntheses.

Diamondoid synthesis by nanosecond pulsed microplasmas generated in He at atmospheric pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stauss, Sven; Shizuno, Tomoki; Oshima, Fumito; Pai, David Z.; Terashima, Kazuo

2012-10-01

Diamondoids are sp^3 hybridized carbon nanomaterials that possess interesting properties making them attractive for biotechnology, medicine, and opto- and nanoelectronics. So far, larger diamondoids have been synthesized using the smallest diamondoid (adamantane) as a precursor. For this electric discharges and pulsed laser plasmas generated in supercritical fluids, and hot filament chemical vapor deposition have been used, but these methods are difficult to realize or very time-consuming. We have developed a more convenient approach where diamondoids are synthesized by high-voltage nanosecond pulsed microplasmas (voltage 15 kVp-p, frequency 1 Hz, pulse width 10 ns) generated in He at atmospheric pressure using point-to-plane tungsten electrodes. Adamantane was used as a precursor, and synthesis was conducted for 10^5 pulses at gas temperatures of 297, 373 and 473 K. Energy dispersive X-ray and micro-Raman spectroscopy were conducted to determine the composition of the products, and gas chromatography - mass spectra indicated the formation of diamantane. It was found that synthesis is more efficient at room temperature than at higher temperatures, and time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy suggest that the chemical reactions take place in the afterglow.

Method and apparatus for pulse stacking

DOEpatents

Harney, Robert C.

1977-01-01

An active pulse stacking system including an etalon and an electro-optical modulator apparatus combined with a pulse-forming network capable of forming and summing a sequence of time-delayed optical waveforms arising from, for example, a single laser pulse. The Pockels cell pulse stacker may attain an efficiency of about 2.6% while providing a controllable faster-than-exponential time rise in transmitted pulse intensity.

Laser Energy Monitor for Double-Pulsed 2-Micrometer IPDA Lidar Application

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Refaat, Tamer F.; Petros, Mulugeta; Remus, Ruben; Yu, Jirong; Singh, Upendra N.

2014-01-01

Integrated path differential absorption (IPDA) lidar is a remote sensing technique for monitoring different atmospheric species. The technique relies on wavelength differentiation between strong and weak absorbing features normalized to the transmitted energy. 2-micron double-pulsed IPDA lidar is best suited for atmospheric carbon dioxide measurements. In such case, the transmitter produces two successive laser pulses separated by short interval (200 microseconds), with low repetition rate (10Hz). Conventional laser energy monitors, based on thermal detectors, are suitable for low repetition rate single pulse lasers. Due to the short pulse interval in double-pulsed lasers, thermal energy monitors underestimate the total transmitted energy. This leads to measurement biases and errors in double-pulsed IPDA technique. The design and calibration of a 2-micron double-pulse laser energy monitor is presented. The design is based on a high-speed, extended range InGaAs pin quantum detectors suitable for separating the two pulse events. Pulse integration is applied for converting the detected pulse power into energy. Results are compared to a photo-electro-magnetic (PEM) detector for impulse response verification. Calibration included comparing the three detection technologies in single-pulsed mode, then comparing the pin and PEM detectors in double-pulsed mode. Energy monitor linearity will be addressed.

Plasma-based generation and control of a single few-cycle high-energy ultrahigh-intensity laser pulse.

PubMed

Tamburini, M; Di Piazza, A; Liseykina, T V; Keitel, C H

2014-07-11

A laser-boosted relativistic solid-density paraboloidal foil is known to efficiently reflect and focus a counterpropagating laser pulse. Here we show that in the case of an ultrarelativistic counterpropagating pulse, a high-energy and ultrahigh-intensity reflected pulse can be more effectively generated by a relatively slow and heavy foil than by a fast and light one. This counterintuitive result is explained with the larger reflectivity of a heavy foil, which compensates for its lower relativistic Doppler factor. Moreover, since the counterpropagating pulse is ultrarelativistic, the foil is abruptly dispersed and only the first few cycles of the counterpropagating pulse are reflected. Our multidimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that even few-cycle counterpropagating laser pulses can be further shortened (both temporally and in the number of laser cycles) with pulse amplification. A single few-cycle, multipetawatt laser pulse with several joules of energy and with a peak intensity exceeding 10(23)  W/cm(2) can be generated already employing next-generation high-power laser systems. In addition, the carrier-envelope phase of the generated few-cycle pulse can be tuned provided that the carrier-envelope phase of the initial counterpropagating pulse is controlled.

Intensity correlation measurement system by picosecond single shot soft x-ray laser.

PubMed

Kishimoto, Maki; Namikawa, Kazumichi; Sukegawa, Kouta; Yamatani, Hiroshi; Hasegawa, Noboru; Tanaka, Momoko

2010-01-01

We developed a new soft x-ray speckle intensity correlation spectroscopy system by use of a single shot high brilliant plasma soft x-ray laser. The plasma soft x-ray laser is characterized by several picoseconds in pulse width, more than 90% special coherence, and 10(11) soft x-ray photons within a single pulse. We developed a Michelson type delay pulse generator using a soft x-ray beam splitter to measure the intensity correlation of x-ray speckles from materials and succeeded in generating double coherent x-ray pulses with picosecond delay times. Moreover, we employed a high-speed soft x-ray streak camera for the picosecond time-resolved measurement of x-ray speckles caused by double coherent x-ray pulse illumination. We performed the x-ray speckle intensity correlation measurements for probing the relaxation phenomena of polarizations in polarization clusters in the paraelectric phase of the ferroelectric material BaTiO(3) near its Curie temperature and verified its performance.